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FROM THE 

|W cords of the mum cut of fndta, 

HOME DEPARTMENT. 


IEnTo. LXXYII. 


. \4r> r >> v -*— -- 

It __ — ■— 

PAPERS 

\ 

RELATING TO 


THE NICOBAR ISLANDS. 


$htbUsfjeb bg &utfjoutp. 


i 

\ 


CALCUTTA: 

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING. 

1870 . 












/ 2 _ 

'i>f 


( < > 






CONTENTS. 


Nicobar Islands, witli sailing directions from HorseburgJS s East Indian Directory, 
Vol. II, 1836 

Busch’s Journal, kept on board the Schooner ISEspiegle, on a cruise amongst the 
Nicobar Islands in 1845 

Analytical Report on specimens of Coal from the Nicobars ... 

Letters on the Nicobar Islands, their Natural Productions, and the Manners, Customs, 
and Superstitions of the Natives, &c., &c. ... 

Extract from a letter from Pere Faure, S. J , to Pere de la Boesse, S. J. 

Extract from a letter from Pere Taillandier, S. J., to Pere Willard, S. .T. 

On the Nicobar Isles and the Fruit of the Mellori, by Nicolas Fontana, Esq. 

A few particulars respecting the Nicobar Islands, by the Rev. J. M. Chopard 

Notice of the Nicobar Islands, by the Rev. P. Barbe 

Notes on the Fauna of the Nicobar Islands, by E. Blyth, Esq. 

A short description of Car-Nicobar, by G. Hamilton, Esq. 

On the Islands of Naneowry and Carmorta, by Lieutenant R. H. Colebrooke 

A Geographical Sketch of the Nicobar Islands, with special reference to Geology, 
bv H. Rink, Ph. D. ... 

Extract from the Meteorological Observations made by the Officers of the Galathea 

Remarks on the Flora of the Nicobar Islands ... 

* 

Extract from the Voyage of the Austrian Frigate Nuvara ... 

Contributions to the Geology and Physical Geography of the Nicobar Islands, by 
Dr. F. von Hochstetter 
The Nicobar Fevers, by Dr. Schwarz 
Thermometrical Observations taken in the Nicobars 
Vocabulary of Nicobar-English words 

Note on the Language of the Nicobarians, by V. Ball, Esq. 

Official correspondence ultimately leading to possession being taken of the Nicobars 
by Her Majesty’s Indian Government 


Page. 

1 

9 

28 

31 

55 

58 

59 
68 
73 
91 

101 

106 

109 

154 

184 

193 

208 
230 
242 
241 
25 1 

264 










PAPERS 


RELATING TO 

THE NICOBAR ISLANDS. 


Nicobar Islands , with sailing directions from “ HorslurgIds East Indian 

Directory , Vol. II. 1836.” 


The Chain, or Archipelago, called Nicobars, and by the Malays 

w , T . , Sambillangs, or Nine Islands, extend N. N. 

Nicobar Islands. w 1 W . and S. S. E. \ E„ about 53 

leagues, having several safe channels among them: eight or nine of 
them are of considerable size, the others, nine or ten in number, 
generally small. 


Car-Nicobar, the northernmost of these islands, bears from the 

S. E. point of the Little Andaman about 

Geographical site of Car-Nico- g. by E., distant 80 miles, its centre 

bal * being in lat. 9° 10' N., long. 92° 54' E. 

or 12° 32' E. by chronometers from Madras. It is about six 
miles in length N. and S., and five in breadth, very little elevated 
above the sea, except at the W. side, and near the S. W. point 
there are small risings. The middle of the island is covered with long 
rich grass, where multitudes of hogs are bred; near the coast there are 
fruit trees of various kinds, particularly orange, citron, lemon, and lime 
trees; plantains, yams, and sweet potatoes may be also procured, but 
cocoanuts are in the greatest abundance, on which all the animals aie 
fed, there being no sort of grain. Ships from the Coromandel _ Coast 
stop here at times to load with cocoanuts, which they receive in 
barter for coarse blue cloth, or other piece goods; and with the cargo 
procured here, they proceed to Rangoon, where they receive for it in 
exchange a cargo of planks for ship-building. 


The inhabitants of this island are usually hospitable to strangers, 
and inoffensive to each other; they live in small villages near the sea, 
on different sides of the island, for the convenience of carrying their 
cocoanuts to ships. A ship having a scorbutic crew may touch here lor 




( 2 ) 


a supply of hogs, or other necessary refreshments, and she may anchor 
on either side the island in from 12 to 30 fathoms, near some of the 
villages; but soundings do not extend far out, the bank being steep, 
and the bottom mostly sand, or sand and coral, makes the anchorage 
indifferent. The most eligible place to anchor at is in a bay at the 
N. W. end of the Island in 10 or 12 fathoms, abreast the watering 
place and village. The Minerva , in January 1803, anchored in. 8 
fathoms, about half a mile off shore, with the village on the W. side 
of the island bearing E., and procured a few hogs. The same ship, 
returning from Bengal, anchored, 13th April 1803, in 11 fathoms, 
with the extremes of the island from N. E. by N. to S. W., and a 
village S. by E. one mile, where she remained three days, during calms 
and light airs, filling up her water.* 

The City of London , 15th November 1800, anchored at 10 p. m. 
in 15 fathoms, and at day-light the extremes of the island bore from E. 
4 N. to S. W. 4 S., the hill S. off shore about 2 miles. She filled 
up with good water, procured some fresh provisions, cocoanuts, limes, &c., 
for her scorbutic and sick people, and sailed on the 18th. 

The Ganges anchored, 9th November 1805, in 15 fathoms, at the 
N. E. part of the island, bearing from W. to S. by E. 4 E., and a village 
S. W. 4 S., off shore 14 mile; here she remained two days procuring 
about 15 butts of water, the wells being nearly dry and the surf render¬ 
ing it difficult to get the casks from the shore; so the other side of the 
island seems preferable, when the season will permit a ship to anchor 
there. 

The channel betwixt this island and the Little Andaman, generally 
called the Ten Degrees Channel, is spacious and clear from danger. 


Batty Malve, in lat. 8° 464' N., bearing from the S. end of 

Batty Halve. Car-Nicobar about S. by E. J E., distant 7 

leagues, is about 14 mile in length E. and 
"W., and half that in breadth. It is destitute of water or inhabitants, 
being composed of an entire rock, covered with a thin stratum of soil, 
which gives root to some shrubs and scraggy trees. At the W. end, 
it is of moderate height, sloping in the form of a wedge to the eastward, 
and has, therefore, been sometimes called the Quoin. At the S. W. end, 
about a mile distant, there are soundings from 25 to 35 fathoms, and 40 
fathoms about 4 a mile off the W. end of the island. 


* Captain Hay, of the Inglis, who touched here for refreshments, 28th January 1813 
advises not to. round the N. W. point of the Island too close, as he got into broken 
water at 1^ mile distant from it; and that a large ship ought not to come under 12 or 14 
fathoms as he did, for the convenience of getting refreshments quick on hoard having 
anchored abreast the. village in fathoms 1 mile distant, the N. point, N. E. i K, 
S. point, W. by S.; with 30 fathoms of cable out, a rock was seen under the ship, having 
only 7£ fathoms water, on it. A ship ought to anchor about half way between the N. W. 

point and the village, in 12 or 14 fathoms sand, but never so near the village as did * the 
Inglis. 








( 3 ) 


Chowry, in lat. 8° 284' N., bearing’ S. 32° E. from Batty Malve, 
Chow distant about 7 leagues, is of a square form' 

scarcely 14 mile in extent. The S. E. angle 
consists of a large rock rising perpendicularly from the sea to a consider¬ 
able height above the tops of the trees that grow on the island, which, 
excepting this rock, is low and level, and not elevated more than 6 or 8 
feet above the surface of the sea. 


Contiguous to the shore, cocoanut trees abound, and the whole of 
the level part of the island is a continued orchard of tropical fruit trees, 
oranges, citron, limes, &c. The natives rear also hogs and poultry, and, 
like those on Car-Nicobar, are generally friendly to such ships as stop 
at the island. Cocoanuts may also be procured here for the Pegu market. 
Soundings project out one or two miles from the shore; particularly off 
the S. W. end of the island a ship may anchor in 15 to 25 fathoms. 
On the N. E. side there is a village, with anchorage abreast, in 20 or 
30 fathoms, sandy bottom. 


Terressa, extending N. W. and S. E., between lat. 8° 12' and 8° 22' 
T t N., is about 4 leagues in length, and 5 miles 

broad at the N. W. end, but scarcely half 
so much at the S. E. end; the N. end bears from the nearest 
part of Chowry S. S. E. 4 E., distant 6 miles. Terressa, when 
viewed at a considerable distance, appears like two islands, the land 
towards each end, particularly the N. part, being much higher than 
in the middle. Its animal and vegetable productions are the same 
as on Car-Nicobar, but it is less populous. There is anchorage 
both on the E. and W. sides of the island; on the W. side, the 
depths are from 30 to 40 fathoms within 4 or 4 mile of the shore; 
at the S. point, where a reef projects into the sea, it is not so steep, 
for a ship may anchor in 30 fathoms coarse sand, near the S. E. point 

of the island. This point I made in long. 
93° 18' E., or 12° 58' E. from Madras 
by chronometers. 


Geographical site. 


Bompoka, separated from the S. E. end of Terressa by a chan¬ 
nel about 2 miles wide, is a small island, 
Bompoka. formed of a mountain partly covered with 

wood. Its summit is a sharp ridge, extending N. and S. about half 
the length of the island, from which the declivity on all sides is 
regular to the water's edge. This island is noted for its women being 
more fair and more handsome than any of the Nicobarians. In the 
channel betwixt it and Terressa there is said to be safe anchoiage, parti¬ 
cularly inside, in 15 or 20 fathoms under Bompoka. 

Katchall, or Tillongchong, situated to the S. E. of the S. end of 

terressa Bompoles ! } and sopuia ted irotn 

Katchall. t h em by a fine sa f e channel about 5£ leagues 

wide, is of triangular form, each side being about 3 leagues in extent. 
The N. and W. sides are moderately elevated, of level appearance, but 
towards the middle and S. E. part of the island, the land is higher, 



( 1 ' ) 


and may be discerned about 8 leagues. It is covered with wood., and, 
along the N. W. side, there is anchorage in 15 to 25 fathoms coarse 
sand, from 1 to 2 miles off shore, but the N. E. side is steep, having no 
ground 100 fathoms about \ a mile from it. The W. end of Katchall 

n is in about lat. 7° 54' N., long. 93° 27' E., 

eo s iap ica si e. or 13° y, f rom Madras by chronometers, 

measured by me in 1798 : and Captain C. C. McIntosh made it 13° 6' E. 
from Madras by chronometers in 1797. 


Ships may pass at discretion through any of the channels between 
Car-Nicobar and Katchall, being all safe. Steering in the Anna , for the 
Sombreiro channel in August, we were horsed to the northward by a 
current, and saw Katchall bearing E. S. E.; then bore away to the 
northward of it and Carmorta, and passed between the latter and 
Tillangchong through an excellent channel. 


Nancowry Harbour, in lat. 8° 0' N., long. 93° 41' E., distant 
Geographical site of Nan- from the E. side of Katchall 4 or 5 miles, 
cowry Harbour. formed by a narrow channel that separates 

the Island Nancowry from the south part of the island Carmorta, 
is very capacious, and will shelter a large fleet of ships from all 
winds. Having an entrance at each end, one to the eastward, another 
to the westward, with soundings close to them, where ships may anchor 
occasionally, makes it very convenient; and they may enter or depart 
from it in every month of the year. The western entrance, about one- 
eighth of a mile, or 100 fathoms wide, is formed between two steep points 
of high-land, and the depths in it are generally from 27 to 35 fathoms; 
outside of it, a sandbank with irregular soundings from 6 to 12 fathoms, 
and patches of rocky bottom project a little way from the S. W. point 
of Carmorta. The eastern entrance is very little wider than the former, 
being contracted by rocky banks which line the shore on each side, 
having 12 and 14 fathoms close to them, and from 18 to 20 fathoms 
in mid-channel. Outside this narrow part of the entrance, there is 
less water in the outer part, betwixt the S. end of the island Trin- 
cuttee and the N. E. end of Nancowry, but in mid-channel never less 
than G fathoms, and generally 5 or 6 fathoms close to the rocky banks 
that bound it on each side. 

The tide runs strong with eddies through the western entrance in 
the springs, but it is safe with a steady fair wind, particularly when 
departing from the harbour. The eastern entrance is preferable for 
going in, being rather wider, with less water; and there is safe anchor¬ 
age outside the narrow part, in the space betwixt Trincuttee and 
the E. side of Carmorta, which is called False Harbour, having 
various depths, from 6 to 10 fathoms, but it becomes very shoal to the 
northward. 


The harbour is separated into two parts by two points of land 
-facing each other, the easternmost, called Cross Harbour, from its form, 
is smallest, and contains several shelves of rock in the southern arm of 
it, with 5 or 6 fathoms close to them; here ships might be hove down 







( 5 ) 


to tlieiv own guns, the water being perfectly smooth in all kinds of 
weather. The western or largest part of the harbour is a great basin 
of an oblong square form, about 2 miles long and 1 in breadth, with a 
cove on the west side, and another at the south end. In the N. W. 
part there is a rocky bank, with 5 and 6 fathoms water on it, but the 
depths throughout the harbour are generally 10 or 12 fathoms near the 
shore, and 18 or 20 fathoms in the middle, except near the western 
entrance there are from 27 to 34 fathoms. The bottom is all soft, good 
holding ground. The flood sets through the harbour to the eastward, 
but with very little velocity inside; high water at hours on full and 
change of moon, and the tide rises 8 or 9 feet. Var. 1° 30' E. in 1791. 


Ships going in or out by either entrance, should endeavour to keep 
i . in mid-channel between the points, with 

people on the fore or fore-topsail yard, to 
look out for the edges of the rocky banks that line the shores. 


A few Danish or Moravian Missionaries were settled here many 
years for the purpose of converting the natives to Christianity; the 
village at Cross Harbour, where they resided, was called by them 
Herman. Few refreshments are got here, the land being hilly and not 
cultivated; although on the north side of the harbour the soil is good 
and will admit of cultivation. Water is got in wells, although it is 
rather scarce in the dry season. The Bellona and Isabella went into the 
harbour in November 1795, and could only procure a small supply of 
water, a few hogs, and one or two bullocks, although the Danish Chief 
gave them his assistance. The natives will barter what refreshments 
they have for tobacco, in preference to cash, and shag from Java they 
are very fond of. 


Nancowry, which gives name to the harbour, and bounds it on 
_ T tit the S. side, is about 4 miles in extent, of 

Nancowry Island. . . in i ^ , . 

triangular iorm, rugged atod uneven, almost 

covered with wood. It abounds with lime-stone, is thinly inhabited, 

and little can be procured from it excepting timber and some hogs. 


The harbour is considered unhealthy, by the noxious vapours arising 
from the impervious forests, and impregnating the surrounding atmos¬ 
phere. The largest of the Nicobar Islands are, in general, from tbe same 
cause, liable to the same disadvantage; and the fever that prevails, called 
the Nicobar fever, or jungly fever of tbe continent, frequently proves 
fatal to Europeans who remain at these islands. 


Camorta, or Car-Morta, on the N. side of the harbour, is about 

16 miles in length N. and S., extending 
Camorta. ^o ] a t, 8 ° 1 5 ' N., and from 2 to 5 miles 

broad. The N. end and middle of this island are flat, and not much 
elevated, but about the harbour it is high, particularly on the W. 
side, where stands the principal village, at the foot of a perpendicular 
ridge. There are said to be several sorts of poon trees lit for masts, 
winch grow on the island; and there arc several places of pasturage, 



( 6 ) 


with a rich soil, producing yams, pine-apples, plaintains, guavas; 
sugar-canes are said to grow without cultivation, notwithstanding it 
is thinly inhabited. About 3 miles from the S. W. point, lies the mouth 
of a lagoon, which extends into the island a great way. Along the W. 
side there are soundings near the shore, and from the N. W. point 
projects a reef of rocks, with shoal water about 3 miles off. 

Trincuttee, a low, level island, covered with betel-nut and cocoanut 
. trees, about 2 leagues in length, near to and 

nncuttee. fronting the E. side of Carmorta, is separated 

from it by a narrow space; which, excepting the southern part, is shoal, 
and forms the first large opening in entering Nancowry Harbour from the 
eastward. There are soundings of 15 to 20 fathoms along the E. side 
of Trincuttee at a small distance, and good anchorage in 8 or 9 fathoms 
at the N. end, between it and the N. E. part of Carmorta. 

Tillangchong, including the small islands adjoining to its S. 

end, extends from lat. 8° 22' to 8° 33' N., 
i dngc ong. being 2 or 3 miles in breadth, and lies to 

the N. N. E. of Carmorta, 3 or 4 leagues distant. It is a high, 
oblong, rugged mountain that may be seen 12 leagues off, in many 
parts covered with trees, and inhabited only by such persons as have 
been banished from the other islands. The E. side of the island is 
steep, but close to the islets and rocks that line its western shore, and 
near those chained to its S. end, the depths are from 36 to 42 fathoms. 
Betwixt the latter and the N. end of Carmorta, the channel is 3 leagues 
wide and very safe, with a bank of soundings stretching from the 
islets off Tillangchong to the Islands Carmorta and Trincuttee, on which 
there are 42 and 45 fathoms near the former, from 40 to 65 fathoms in 
mid-channel, and 18 or 20 fathoms near to Carmorta. 

Sombreiro Channel, bounded on the N. side by the Islands 

Katchall and Nancowry, and by Meroe or 

Sombreiro Channel. Passage Island on the S. side, is very safe, 

and about 7 leagues wide. Meroe is a low 
small island about 3 leagues to the N. W. of the Little Nicobar, and 
bears from the S. E. point of Katchall S. 13° E., distant 74 leagues, 
being situated in lat. 7° 29' N., long. 93° 46' E., or 13° 24' E. from 
n v- rtn i c zL a Tur a9na Madras by chronometers. About 3 leagues 

Geographical rite of Meroe. g _ ^ ^ g _ R ^ q{ ^ , g 

a coral bank with various depths; the least water found on it has been 
9 and 10 fathoms, but both to the northward and southward of it 
there is no ground in the channel. 


Her Majesty's Ship Trident , February 2nd, 1805, got one cast of 

With directions. soundings about 15 fathoms, coral and sand, 

m lat. 7°424 Is., long. 93° 33 E. by chrono¬ 
meter, but the weather was too hazy to obtain bearings of the land. 


Ships steering for the channel, if not certain of their latitude, 
should endeavour to fall in with the land on the windward side, accord- 



( 7 ) 


ing to the prevailing monsoon; and they may pass through without 
hesitation by night as well as by day, if the weather is not too dark 
at the time. 

About 4 miles E. by S. from Meroe, and nearly the same distance 
from the N. end of the Little Nicobar, there is a small island called 
Track, and another close to it on the E. side, called Trice, which are 
surrounded by rocks. Betwixt them and Meroe the passage is safe 
said to have soundings from 12 to 20 fathoms; but the Prince Regent 
sailed through this passage, August 8th, 1820, at \ past 5 a. m., 
and had no soundings with 33 fathoms line. Betwixt these small islands 
and the Nicobar, there is said to be a narrow and critical passage, with 
soundings from 7 to 12 fathoms, which should never be attempted. 

The two large islauds to the southward of the Sombreiro Channel 
are sometimes called the Great and Little Sambillangs, but generally 
Great and Little Nicobars; the former beiug the largest and southern- 
most of all the islands which form this chain. 


Little Nicobar extends nearly N. E. and S. W. from lat. 7°13' 

to 7° 26' N., being' about 4 leagues in 
1 e 1C0 ar ‘ length, and half that breadth; it is mode¬ 

rately elevated and hilly, covered with wood, and steep to seaward; 
but there are soundings all round near the shore. On the N. W. side, 
a little to the westward of an island adjoining the shore, there is said 
to be an anchorage olf a small bay, where there is a run of water; but 
although this island and the Great Nicobar are said to have many 
inhabitants, they are more imperfectly known than the other islands; the 
natives being shy of strangers, seldom or never venture on board of 
passing ships. They are, however, thought to be inoffensive, and have 
sometimes treated with lenity the people belonging to vessels that had the 
misfortune to be shipwrecked there. 

St. George's Channel, formed between the Great and Little Nicobar, 
„ . is from 3 to 6 miles wide, and extending E. 

St. Georges Channel. N . E . and W . S . W . about 5 or 6 ] eag . ues 

in length, with deep water in it, except near the western entrance. 
The bottom in general is foul, with strong tides or currents running 
in eddies through this channel; therefore, of late years, few ships 
have passed through it, unless accidentally carried into it by an un- 
; expected current. A little inside the western 

irections. . entrance, the island Caudul is situated, 

nearest to the southern shore, and between them there is no safe passage. 
Erom the N. end of the same island a reef projects considerably, 
betwixt which and the northern shore is the proper channel, and ships 
that intend to proceed through should keep nearest to the N. side, 
or Little Nicobar shore, where there are said to be soundings, but none 
in mid-channel. The rocky bottom, deep water, and strong eddies 
will, however, always make it imprudent to anchor, except to the west¬ 
ward of Caudul Island, where the depths are moderate. On the S. side 
the eastern entrance, off the N.-E. end of Great Nicobar, is situated 



( 8 ) 


the small Island Cabra, of middling* height; and on the N. side, the 
Island Month oule, near the E. end of Little Nicobar. The entrance 
into the channel is between these two small islands. 


The current sometimes sets strong to leeward for several days 

together through the various channels be- 
^ uueut ‘ tween the S. end of the Little Andaman 

and the southernmost Nicobars, according to the strength of the pre¬ 
vailing monsoon ; but at times it slacks, or sets to windward, particularly 
when the winds are light and variable. Under lee of the different 
islands, there is frequently a kind of tides prevailing, when the current 
is setting strong to leeward through the channels between them. 


Great Nicobar. 


Great Nicobar extends N. by W. and S. by E., about 10 leagues 

in length, and 4 or 5 leagues broad at 

the N. part and middle of the island, where 
the land is high, and may be discerned 11 or 12 leagues off. The S. 

part becomes narrow, projecting out into a low level point about 1J or 

2 miles broad, covered with trees, and having a sandy beach facing the 
sea. This point is in lat. 6° 45' N., long. 94° 0' E., or 10° 34J' W. 

from Pulo Aor by two chronometers exactly 
agreeing. By three chronometers agreeing 
to i a mile, I made it 21° 1' E. from Bombay Castle, and Captain 
McIntosh made it 21° 4' E. from the same by good chronometers; the 
mean 21° 2^' E. will place it in long. 93° 58' E., allowing Bombay 
Castle in 72° 55 E. 


Geographical site. 


Captain P. Hey wood, in 1804, made the S. point of the Great 
Nicobar in long. 93° 59' E. by chronometers from Madras, allowing 
the latter to be in long. 80° 20' E., and he made it in 94° 2' E. 
by lunar observations. 

The highest part of this island is in lat. 7° 8' N., and mostlv 
the whole of it is covered with trees. Soundings from 17 to 24 fathoms 
extend along the W. coast, about 2 and 3 miles off shore; from the 
S.-W. side, the bank projects about 2 leagues or more, the depths 
on it being from 25 to 30 fathoms about 5 or 6 miles from the shore. 
Prom the S. point a reef projects a considerable way into the sea, 
and lines the shore on the W. side, with soundings near it of moderate 
depths, over a bottom of coarse sands and shells; the S. E. side of 
the point is thought to be more steep, although it seems probable 
that soundings extend along the E. side of the island, near the shore, 
which part is generally avoided by ships. 


















( 9 ) 


Busch’s Journal, kept on board the Schooner L'Espiegle, on a Cruise 

amongst the Nicobar Islands, in 1845/— Captain H. Lewis in 

Comm and. 

Calcutta, Thursday 13 th March. —Broke ground, having' pilot on 
board, and dropped down the river. 

Tuesday 18 th March. —6-30 a. m. —Discharged the pilot, and took 
our departure from long. 88° 18' E., lat. 21° 44' N. Steered a direct 
course for Car-Nicobar, with a light N. and N. W. breeze, therm. 87°, 
bar. 30. 

From 19 th March to 30 th March. —Light breezes and calms, with 
fine weather; therm, from 86° to 92°: crew employed in arranging the 
armament of the vessel. 

Monday, 31st March. —Made the N. W. point of Car-Nicobar 
during* the night, and stood off and on till daybreak, when we anchored 
in the N. W. bay in 7\ fathoms, sand. The village of (C Sowrah ” 
bore S. W. by S., and the extremes of the Island N. E. } E., and W. 
by S. i S. Went on shore at i past 10 ; and found the people quiet 
and inoffensive. The men are stout, though not very muscular, and 
exceedingly ugly—partaking somewhat of the Burmese physiognomy 
and complexion, only far less pleasing. Our medium of communication 
was a mixture of English and Portuguese, with a few signs. The con¬ 
struction of their huts and boats displays great ingenuity. Their houses 
are circular, erected on the beach, surrounded with cocoanut trees and 
dense jungle, being substantially built on solid posts driven into the 
ground, and elevated 8 feet: the floor is a strong frame-work of timber 
and rafters (the common poon of Malacca) ; and the roof is formed 
exactly like a bee-hive, of fine bamboos and strong rattans, being from 
30 to 50 feet diameter, and of very considerable height; the entrance is 
from below, through a trap-door by a ladder. These habitations are 
cool, dark, and smoky, and not ill-adapted for the climate. Many have a 
ceiling of wood, handsomely ornamented and carved, and answering the 
purpose of a store-room. Apparently these huts serve several families 
for a residence. We counted as many as 37 individuals in one, and 
though there may have been visitors amongst them, yet. the number is 
large. They abhor the idea of being counted, thinking it some spell to 
do them harm. We could not perceive much sickness amongst them, 
though they ask for medicines, and obtain them from most vessels : 
like children, they wish to have everything they see, and make no use of 
what is given to them. They are fond of drinking and feasting. 
Cocoanuts, betel-nuts, pigs, poultry, and yams are the staples of the 
island. Numerous vessels, English, Burmese, and native craft from 
Coromandel, visit them; and it is calculated that more than 25 caigoes, 
of not less than 100,000 nuts each, leave the island every year. The 
barter is—1, various kinds of cloth; 2, straight cutlasses (which the 
natives use most dexterously for the purpose of ascending the cocoanut 
trees, and opening the fruit) ; 3, hatchets; 4, silver spoons; 5, bpamsh 

2 



( 10 ) 


Dollars and Rupees; 6, ardent spirits; 7, common fowling-pieces; 
8 , sundry articles of Burmese manufacture, as long knives and colored 
cloth; 9, Chinese tobacco, and American Negro-head, the strongest 
being most approved of. 

Betel-nut is abundant, and is apparently cultivated, but the inhab¬ 
itants are too idle to husk, and little is therefore exported. In their 
dress the Car-Nicobarians do not go to much expense : a rag of blue 
nankeen, four feet long and three inches broad, serves to conceal and firmly 
tie up the propria maribus ; and the women are content with a piece of 
white or blue cloth wrapped round the loins. A black hat or red woollen 
cap are ornaments which the men covet, though they never use them at 
home : silver soup-ladles are used as ornaments at festivities. Both men 
and women consume large quantities of tobacco and betel-nut : the 
former is made up in the form of Spanish cigars; and as a cigar-case 
they use a hollow bamboo inserted in the flap of the ear, in the manner 
of the Burmese. Betel-nut, mixed with pawn-leaf and quick-lime, is 
used by both sexes to a frightful extent, rendering their countenances 
most hideous by disfiguring and blackening the mouth and injuring the 
teeth. This excess can hardly fail to injure their health, and perhaps it 
may be one cause of their generally not arriving at any advanced age, nor 
being very prolific; 40 or 50 years seems to be the greatest age attained 
by the men, and we certainly saw no instance of longevity beyond that; 
of children we observed but few. Their boats, like their houses, show 
considerable ingenuity, and in the management of them they display 
great skill. These boats have outriggers ; the larger carry from three to 
four masts, with mat sails, and are capable of holding from 20 to 30 men ; 
in these they cross over to the southern islands, and barter cloth for 
canoes, cooking-pots, and rattans. Their weapons consist of spears of 
various sizes; but only intended for killing wild pigs and fish; they have 
no nets. 

We found drinkable water a short distance from the shore, in a well 
10 or 12 feet deep, dug in a soil consisting of debris of coral and shells, 
which was evidently once the bottom of the sea. We shot a few parrots 
and other birds, but seldom could succeed in getting them, on account of 
the impenetrable jungle. Passed a couple of hours in the huts, and 
returned on board. 

Tuesday , 1<^ April. —All hands employed watering. We were visited 
by some boats from Moose village, situated to the south. The people 
in them seemed less cunning and knowing than their neighbours, and 
were more easy to bargain with; they brought the usual cocoanuts, 
yams, and bad plantains. Fish we could not obtain, for they never sell 
it; we caught, however, a rock cod, but it was not eatable. Went on 
shore again, and tried to penetrate into the interior, to an open elevated 
plain which we had seen from the sea. We enticed two natives to 
accompany us, but they were excessively unwilling to proceed, and one left, 
after having accompanied us about a mile, through low ground covered 
with high grass. At last we reached the rising ground, and proceeded 
another mile, but saw nothing around us but jungle, betel-nut trees, 
and a species of low palm, bearing a large red fruit, which, when mixed 
with yam, hog^s lard and cocoanut, and baked, forms a substitute 



( 11 ) 


for bread. Our guide being unwilling to proceed further, we did not 
think it prudent to persist, and returned to the village. It would appear 
that the Nicobarians have establishments inland, which they do not wish 
Europeans to visit. The soil on these plains is undoubtedly fertile ; but 
a settlement there, nay, even an exploring party, would doubtless meet 
with much opposition. There is a rich field for the naturalist. 

As we were not prepared to barter for cocoanuts, the natives did 
not seem to care much for us or for our goods; and we experienced some 
difficulty in obtaining even a few provisions in the shape of fowls and 
pigs. The Nicobarians have the character, amongst the English “ skip¬ 
pers” and other traders, of great honesty and promptitude in their trans¬ 
actions. A principal man of the village contracts for a certain quantity 
of nuts, to be delivered on a certain day at a certain place; the goods 
given in barter being handed to him in advance, he divides them 
amongst the villagers, and they seldom fail to perform their part of the 
contract ) to this effect they hold numerous certificates from different 
Captains. They are very fond of high-sounding names—as Lord Byron, 
Lord Nelson, Anson, &c.; they also frequently adopt the names of 
Captains who have had dealings with them, and treated them kindly ; 
one we found named “ Young Crisp.” A snake had been killed during the 
night, but it was so mutilated and putrid that there was no possibility of 
preserving it ; it measured 134 feet in length, and appeared to be a boa 
constrictor. We learnt that they were numerous ; and likewise obtained 
a smaller snake, said to be poisonous, which we preserved in spirits. 

Wednesday , 2nd April. —Again employed in watering and sur¬ 
veying. Had visits from several natives, all of whom knew a few words 
of English and Portuguese ; they were willing to receive presents of all 
kinds, and not backward in asking ; but to barter they were averse, 
except for cocoanuts, which we could not take. We obtained a few 
fowls, pigs, and yams, all of good flavour, particularly the latter, in ex¬ 
change for a German silver soup-ladle and some old cutlasses. There 
was a severe squall at noon. We forwarded letters by a Burmese junk to 
Mergui. 

Thursday , 3rd April.— At day-break got under weigh, with light 
airs and calm, and sweeped out: stood N. E. in order to round the reef 
extending from the N. point. We spoke a Cheulia brig in ballast from 
Penang to Arracan : and sent duplicates of our letters by her. At 4-15 
p. m. the wind shifted to N. E., with a heavy squall. Stood away for 
the N. E. anchorage, and at 6 . p. m. brought up between the villages of 
Moose and Lapata, in 10J fathoms; shore distance J mile. In the evening 
we pulled on board of the Barque Swallow } which had put in for water 
from Moulmein bound to Mauritius. 

Friday , 4 th April.— Landed at Lapata village, where we got pro¬ 
visions in abundance, and found a large junk at anchor, commanded by 
a Portuguese from Mergui, Signor de Castro. From him we obtained 
some correct information regarding the French Missionaries on Terressa 
Island; he had stores for them on board. He also gave us an account 
of the massacre that was perpetrated by the inhabitants of that island 
on the crew of the Schooner Mary , Capt. Ignacio Ventura, from Rangoon, 



which occurred in August last. The village of Lapata and its dependence 
is the largest on the island; but the anchorage is not good, and no water 
is to be had. The inhabitants keep a register of vessels that touch at 
the island. To the Port Captain of Lapata, by name Atlas, we entrust¬ 
ed the Danish ensign to keep till our return. 

Saturday, bth April. —We went on shore early, and made an excur¬ 
sion to an inland village, where we saw nothing worthy of notice, the 
jungle being very dense, and the houses not so large and substantial as 
those on the coast. A rather respectable-looking native, enjoying the 
soubriquet of “Neptune,” was our guide. We witnessed a marriage 
feast: and obtained a specimen of tortoise-shell, but not very good, one 
shell containing 13 pieces, small and large, which weighed only 1 4 drs. 

At 2 p. m. we again got under weigh, and worked round the S. E. 
point: at 8 p. m. S. W. point bore W.: night dark and cloudy: bar. 
29-95; ther. 89°. The main object of the expedition being to explore 
the southern group or Sambillang Islands, and the season being already so 
far advanced that the monsoon might shortly be expected to set in with 
all its force and put an end to operations, we did not deem it advisable 
to devote more time to this island, which is often visited, and therefore 
comparatively well known. 

Sunday, 6th April .—Cloudy squally weather, with strong winds: 
at day-light sighted Batty Malve, a rocky uninhabited island, bearing 
E. by S. J S., and distant 10 miles. A water-spout close to us, but 
avoided. Heavy rain : long, by chronometer at 9-30 a. m. 92° 56' 15" E. ; 
lat. 8° 47' N.; bar. 29*83; therm 89°. No anchoring ground near 
Batty Malve. 

Monday, 1th April. —At daylight calm; found ourselves within 2 
miles of Batty Malve, with a strong set to the eastward. Out sweeps, 
and made an offing, when a light breeze sprung up, and we sighted 
Terressa on with Chowry: at 10 p. m. again calm, obliged to sweep, in 
order to avoid the easterly current, which is very strong amongst the 
islands at this season, and rather dangerous: at 11-30 p. m, with a light 
breeze we stood S. E. for Terressa. Chowry is remarkable for its shape, 
there being a high abrupt rock on the S. E. point, and the remainder low 
flat land, well inhabited, but producing no cocoanut trees. 

Tuesday, 8 th April. —At daylight we made the S. W. side of Terressa, 
and ran in close, in order to sight the village of Lakshee, where we ex¬ 
pected to find and communicate with the French Missionaries: stood 
N. E. along shore, saw no village, but admired the appearance of the 
island, which to the N. E. consists of moderate hills, being in many 
places free from jungle, and exhibiting lovely plains and valleys : at 2 p. m. 
tacked and stood to the southward: the wind falling light, and the night 
lowering, we anchored in 20 fathoms, about J mile off shore. Night 
gloomy, and the wind blowing hard in gusts. Kept a strict anchor 
watch, in order to be on our guard against any attack on the part of the 
natives: a small boat came alongside, but the natives would not come on 
board, and we could obtain no information whatever from them. 


( 13 ) 


Wednesday, 9 th April .—At daylight weighed and made sail, with 
the wind blowing dead on shore; stood away S. W.: the wind falling 
light, the strong set to. the eastward carried us close into the tremendous 
breakers; we already felt the first roller, being barely two lengths from 
the rocks, which we cleared with the greatest difficulty by all hands ply¬ 
ing the sweeps. At. 8-30 a. m. we found ourselves abreast of Lakshee, 
and saw the French Missionaries amongst the spectators on shore; we 
hoisted Danish colors, and stood away S. W.; at 10 o'clock, a large canoe 
with 12 or 15 men came out, from whom we got a pilot, name “Philip.” 
Mr. Busch went on shore in the canoe, in order to see the Missionaries, 
and rejoin the vessel when at anchor. The passage through the breakers 
was terrific but safe. After rounding the S. W. point and an extensive 
reef, we stood for the passage between Terressa and Bompolca , course N. 
E. and N.—When within less than half a mile of the anchorage, the 
wind failed us, and the tide turning at the same time, carried us back 
again to sea at the rate of five knots an hour, against sweeps and light 
airs. The overfalls were very heavy, and we shipped several seas, one of 
which carried away the jolly boat, and we very nearly lost the vessel.—At 
lip. M. the tide turned again, and brought up a squall from S. E., which 
carried us through the passage at the rate of nine knots. At 6 p. m. we 
came to an anchor in 35 fathoms, sand and coral, ^ mile off shore. 
There is no danger in this passage, with a good leading breeze; but the 
entrance into the bay from the N. E. side is broad and clear. The bay 
of Terressa is well protected against the N. E. and S. W. monsoon, but 
is exposed to an easterly gale; the rise and fall of tide at new and full 
moon is about 10 or 12 ft. 

Thursday , 10th April. —We landed, crossed the island, and had some 
communication with the inhabitants. The distance across was 2J to 3 
miles : the landing is rendered difficult by a number of coral rocks which 
are covered at high water; but there is no surf. From the beach we 
ascended through a dense jungle of trees, creepers, and brushwood 
swarming with pigeons and parrots, and extending for more than half a 
m il e —then followed more rising ground, comparatively clear, and covered 
with high rank grass; and finally, a high undulating plain, open and 
clear, which afforded a fine view over the sea, on both sides of the island. 
This plain extended about j mile E. and W. We again descended to the 
low beach, which we reached after crossing a tract of dense and filthy 
jungle, enclosing the village of Lakshee, which is rather a large one and 
well built. We found the Missionaries, Messrs. Chabord and Plaisant, 
men of education and not bigoted. Sincere they must be in their wish 
to Christianize the natives, and we cannot but admire the charity which 
induces them to forego the comforts of civilized life, in the hope of 
making converts. M. Chabord has resided three years on the island, but 
his efforts have unfortunately been attended with but few good effects. 
They landed first on Car-Nicobar, but the Nicobarians being averse to 
European residents, they were by Capt. Crisp removed to Terressa; one 
of the company here died of fever, and no wonder when the locality of 
their residence is considered. They live in a native house, which is 
roomy enough, but thickly surrounded with jungle, barring all admission 
of air. They brought with them materials to build a house, carpenters 


( 14 ) 


to erect it, and even a gardener: but the natives opposed all innovations; 
and forced them to abandon their schemes of improvement, keeping 
them almost as prisoners, shut up in a house in the centre of a dirty 
village. 

We explained to them the object of our expedition, and they hailed 
the idea of a settlement being made on the islands as a means of extending 
their chances of improving and converting the natives. M. Chabord 
honestly owned that they had not yet made any bond fide converts, yet 
we would hope that their efforts have had some civilizing tendency. 
On questioning the Missionaries regarding the attacks that had lately 
been committed on ships visiting the islands, they gave us willingly all 
the information they possessed, of which the following is the substance: 
as their authority they gave the natives themselves, who could have 
no motive in misrepresenting their own countrymen to their dis¬ 
advantage. 

—The Whaling Vessel Pilot was, in 1839, attacked in that 
part of Nancowry Harbour usually called “ False Harbour/’ being between 
the north side of Carmorta and Trincuttee. It is asserted, and with 
much probability, that provocation had been given, and all discipline 
abandoned. The crew attempted to interfere with the women of the 
islanders, when more than half of them, with the Captain and some 
officers, were attacked and slaughtered on shore; many canoes were at 
the same time alongside the vessel, and nearly completed the work of 
destruction there. One boat, however, with five men and a mate, escaped 
with great difficulty, and made for the mainland; but falling in with a 
man-of-war conveying Sir Hugh Gough to China, they obtained assist¬ 
ance to recover the vessel, which was eventually brought to Singapore in 
a sad state. The crew consisted originally of more than 40 men, of 
whom only five escaped; the fight is said to have been desperate—several 
natives were wounded and bear their scars to this day. H. M. S. 
Wanderer was, in 1840, dispatched to avenge this affair; she burned a 
few huts, fired some shots, and punished the innocent with the guilty. 
This mode of revenge they do not care for : the only punishment to affect 
them would be the destruction of their cocoanut trees. 

%nd .—In 1833, a Chulia craft of two masts, commanded by a 
Eurasian, with a lascar crew, and coming from Bengal, was cut off in 
the same spot. The Captain was murdered on board, and the whole crew 
assassinated there and on shore while watering: the vessel was then 
plundered and sunk. No notice seems to have been taken of this 
affair. 

3 rd. —August, 1844: Capt. Ignacio Ventura, commanding the 
Schooner Mary , 150 tons, belonging to Rangoon, was attacked at 
Terressa whilst at anchor on the northern side of the harbour, under the 
villages of Lallong and Bengallah. No provocation was given : there 
was no European crew on board, and but a very small native one. The 
Captain was killed on the quarter-deck whilst bargaining with the 
natives, whereupon the crew leapt overboard and were drowned or 



( 15 ) 

murdered, the vessel was plundered, and then set fire to and turned 
adrift. The ring-leaders are well known as had characters, and were 
most probably instigated by example or encouragement from Nancowry. 
Three weeks previous to our arrival, the H. E. I. C. War Steamer 
P hlegethon called and anchored in the harbour for several days, making 
enquiries, partly through the French Missionaries, one of whom, suffering 
much from ill health, went as passenger in her to Penang or Mer«*ui. 
The people of Nancowry, even amongst their own countrymen, bear a 
bad character. Purely native craft, however, have never been known 
to be attacked, probably because the temptation is not sufficient. 

4 th .—1844 : Capt. Caw, commanding a vessel of 100 tons, be¬ 
longing to himself, called at Carmorta, was attacked and killed without 
provocation, and the crew, panic-struck, leapt overboard : an Arab serang 
had alone presence of mind to run into the cabin ; he there seized fire¬ 
arms, and shot one or two of the assailants, who in their turn took 
fright and left the vessel,—after which the serang and crew brought the 
vessel to Penang, carrying with them the Captain's corpse preserved in 
arrack. In Penang the serang was arrested on suspicion of having 
murdered the Captain, but was acquitted on a strict enquiry. A vessel 
of war has been since sent to enquire into particulars, but nothing further 
appears to have been elicited. 

We passed the day with the Missionaries, and returned to the vessel 
at sunset, inviting them to visit us on the morrow, and leaving Mr. 
Lowert to accompany them. 

As might be expected, the population of this village, probably in¬ 
creased from the adjacent ones, flocked in numbers to see “ Signor 
Padre's” visitors : the total number, however, was small, perhaps 150; 
as before mentioned, the islanders dread being counted. The Missionaries 
having visited every village on the island, estimated the number of in¬ 
habitants at 700 : probably this estimate may approach the truth, and 
certainly there are not above 1,000 souls on the whole island. As to their 
morals and religion, our friends the Missionaries gave them but an in¬ 
different character: but in intellect they are not behind the Car-Nico- 
barians, though they have not the advantage of frequent intercourse with 
Europeans. A rather respectable headman of the village of Lakshee, 
who gloried in the name of “ Gold-mohur,'' showed us a very handsome 
baton, silver-mounted, bearing the chiffer and crown of His late Majesty 
Frederick VI of Denmark; he also admitted having in his possession 
the Danish ensign, but he was afterwards either unwilling or unable to 
produce it. Their accounts were so confused that we could not understand 
whether Mr. Posen, whose name was known, had left it here, or whether 
they had obtained it by barter from Carmorta. Their houses and boats are 
well constructed, and even ornamented with some taste; they pay much 
attention to their cocoanut trees, but to nothing else. Yams and wild 
mangosteens are abundant: sugar-cane of a very superior description is 
also found; but we did not see it growing. The cane which was brought 
to us appeared half cultivated, half wild, was full of saccharine matter, 


( 1C ) 


but had a strong woody fibre. We observed several species of forest 
timber of large size, and of these we brought away specimens ; they 
mostly resembled the Penang woods, but we could detect nothing’ like teak. 
On our return to the vessel, we crossed two rivulets, one rather considerable, 
though the rains had not commenced. The jungle abounds with wild 
pigs, which afford the islanders both sport and provisions. Of birds we saw 
a great variety, but it was difficult to get near them. The soil near the sea 
shore, on both sides of the island, consists of sand, coral, lime, and vege¬ 
table mould, admirably adapted for cocoanut trees. The high-land 
throughout the centre of the island is red clay, with limestone, and is 
covered with a rich vegetable mould ; it appears admirably adapted for the 
growth of sugar-cane, particularly as the climate is said to be moist, hot, 
and not very tempestuous, and the advantage of a sea breeze could not 
fail to insure a good cane. In reference to climate, however, the informa¬ 
tion we obtained from the Missionaries was not much to be depended 
upon; for they seem to have paid no attention whatever to the weather, 
nor even to have registered the temperature from the thermometer they 
possess. The land being rather low, there is nothing to arrest the 
clouds, so that the rains cannot be very heavy. The heat on the high¬ 
land is reported to be moderate. It seldom rains during the months of 
December, January, February, and March, which are dry and hot. The 
S. W. monsoon is the season for catching turtle : they then come on shore 
to deposit their eggs, and are caught in traps. The shell is of fair quality, 
but not equal to that of Borneo and the Sooloo Archipelago. We 
bought some fine shell for a hat. 

Friday, 11 th April. —Went on shore at daylight, and roamed 
through the forest and high-land. A heavy dew had fallen during the 
night, the effects of which we felt severely. To colonize the island, an 
importation of Chinese laborers would be requisite, and also people from 
the Coromandel Coast. The facilities for cultivation would be little in¬ 
ferior to those at Penang, and with a sufficiency of labor they would 
ultimately prove greater. The natives would no doubt dislike a settle¬ 
ment of Europeans; but they are too few, too timid, and not united 
enough, to attempt anything against a tolerably well regulated settlement. 
It is to be regretted that we did not visit the Island of Chowry, for, 
according to M. Chaboixhs account, it is the most cultivated and populous, 
and the people are also the most civilized, of this group; cocoanut trees 
are, however, very scarce, and the inhabitants are therefore obliged to re¬ 
sort to Terressa, and by working for their wealthier neighbours obtain a 
livelihood : if colonisation were attempted, it is more than probable that 
the services of these men might be secured for the colony. In settling 
on this island, it would be absolutely requisite to be provided with 
presses for extracting the oil from the cocoanut, for by purchasing most 
of their nuts, the inhabitants would be rendered dependent on the 
settlement. 

Messrs. Chabord and Plaisant came on board to breakfast; and we 
passed the day pleasantly, obtaining all the information we could: many 
natives visited them on board. M. Chabord has compiled a manuscript 
dictionary of the language, which he appears to speak correctly; at least 


( 17 ) 


he is well understood. M. Plaisant had not been here quite a year, yet 
he also has made great progress in the language, notwithstanding the 
repeated attacks of fever which have much reduced him. 

Bompoka or Bambocka is a small island S. E. of Terressa, distant 
2- miles, forming the S. side of the bay : the anchorage is good, and 
landing easy. The land rises abruptly from the beach to about the 
height of 750 feet: it has abundance of good water, and of fine timber, 
and it is well sheltered: there is but one village facing the bay, which 
took fire whilst we were at anchor there, and several houses were destroyed. 
M. Chabord having on his last visit to the Island of Katchall left 
part of his property there, it was agreed that he should accompany us 
there via Nancowry, where he has also formed acquaintances. The 
survey of the island, but more particularly of the bay, having been 
finished by Capt. Lewis, the following day was fixed upon for our 
departure: in the evening the Missionaries went on shore to make their 
arrangements. 

Saturday , Vltli April. —M. Plaisant came on board, and reported his 
reverend brother too ill to undertake the cruise, but said that he would 
himself take M. Chabord's place. At 7 a. m. we got under weigh, and 
with a westerly breeze sailed all round the bay to the northward, standing 
close along the shore, having 8 to 12 fathoms water, and quite smooth. 
We saw a number of houses and boats, but not a single inhabitant; no 
doubt an evil conscience, or rather fear of retribution, made the in¬ 
habitants shy. We then crossed the bay, sailing round the east side 
of Bompoka, and stood away to the eastward for Carmorta : at 2 p. m., 
having rounded the N. point of Carmorta, we stood close in shore, 
admiring some of the finest scenery we had yet witnessed. On entering 
the bay formed between Carmorta and the N. side of Trincuttee, we 
observed a large junk, which immediately got under weigh and stood out 
to the eastward, at the same time we saw a number (at least six) of very 
large canoes full of men, pulling away for the shore, not one attempt¬ 
ing to come near us. We immediately gave chase to the junk, and sus¬ 
pecting all was not right, we brought her to, by firing a shot across her 
bows, and then run alongside and enquired the Master's reason for run¬ 
ning away: from what we could understand of his answer, it appeared 
that he belonged to Mergui, and had completed his cargo, consisting of 
cocoanuts and betelnuts; his vessel was about 200 tons. The currents 
being very strong and uncertain amongst these islands, the anchorage 
doubtful, and the wind light and night approaching, the Captain did 
not think it advisable to touch here, but proceeded round Trincuttee to 
the entrance of Nancowry Harbour; and at 7 p. m. we anchored in the 
passage between Nancowry and trincuttee, which forms the outer har¬ 
bour. 

Sunday , 13^ April .—At daybreak weighed and stood into the inner 
harbour with a light breeze; we were obliged to use the sweeps, and 
anchored in the centre of the harbour, having both entrances. open, and 
opposite to the village of Malacca. Several natives dressed in jackets, 
hats and trowsers, came on board, and some of them showed us badges 
of authority similar to those we saw at Terressa, as also several certifi¬ 
cates from Mr. Rosen, in English and Danish, appointing them head- 

3 


( 18 ) 



men of different villages. They admitted having had flags, but stated 
that these had been removed by a Captain Hazlewood, some years ago. 
A country-born lad of about 17 or 18 years of age, by name William 
Goldsmith, came on board: he was decently dressed and well behaved; 
had good certificates from many captains, but particularly from the com¬ 
mander of the H. E. I. C. Steamer Blilog othon : he stated having, about six 
years ago, left an English vessel commanded by Capt. Spottiswood, and, 
together with the mate, Mr. Robson, remained on the island; he had been 
well treated by the natives, and felt no inclination to return to his native 
country (Madras), where he had no relations living. He looked very 
sickly, and occasionally appeared weak-minded or imbecile. The natives 
of Nancowry Harbour were shy, and did not leave a favorable impres¬ 
sion : they have much intercourse with the Malays and Burmese. The 
steamer had visited them about a month ago, various subjects having 
been then enquired into, and she was expected back again shortly. The 
lad Goldsmith, when questioned as to the attacks upon vessels, protested 
that his friends were innocent, and referred it all to the inhabitants of 
the northern harbour, with whom they keep no intercourse whatever. 
We found Malays here, preparing tripang, alias Biche de mer , for the 
China market. There are different kinds of tripang, white, red, and 
black, all in great abundance ; they resemble gigantic leeches : the black 
are said to be of least value ; they are boiled, dried in the sun, and 
packed with lime; but we could not obtain a sight of them in the pre¬ 
pared state. The natives brought us turtle-shells, adulterated ambergris, 
and dammer of very superior quality. Our intercourse with these people 
was cramped by fear of treachery, against which we were obliged to take 
every precaution, on account of the smallness of our force. The head¬ 
man at Malacca, by name Angri, came on board in full dress ; he looked 
well, and spoke Portuguese tolerably; showed a certificate from Rosen, 
given to his father ; and with him came a negro-looking man of a most 
forbidding and suspicious cast of countenance. 

Monday , 1 idh April .—Employed in surveying the harbour. 
Went on shore to see the ruins of the Danish settlement, which we 
found on the island of Carmorta, opposite Malacca village, on the 
N. side of the harbour, on a rising ground half up the hill. The 
walls of a few miserable brick-built houses were all that remained : not 
a vestige of plantation or of cultivation, though the hills and valleys all 
round are entirely free from jungle. There does not appear to be any 
fault in the soil, though probably the situation is not sheltered enough 
for coffee and nutmeg. The natives told us that the colonists paid most 
attention to the growing of rice ; but this seems preposterous, when we 
remember with what facility it can be imported. A brick-built house 
seems also to be ill-calculated for the climate; wooden houses, as in 
Burmali, are raised with ease, and answer much better. We regretted 
much that we could never obtain any clear account of the settlement, 
nor of the misfortunes and obstacles it must have met with : the islanders 
spoke with affection of the settlers, and also of the Government. The 
scenery is pleasing: but the harbour is landlocked, and not so cheerful 
and open as that of Terressa. It is said that there are wild cattle on the 
island, but we never saw any. In the absence of a correct report regard¬ 
ing the last settlement in these islands, it is almost useless to speculate 



on the probable causes of its failure ; but it would appear to have been 
undeitaken by men with little practical knowledge of colonization, who 
had themselves no interest at stake, and unprovided with means adequate 
to the task. In an attempt of this kind, all depends on the first settlers : 
they have everything to face, and should be well provided for according¬ 
ly ; well lodged, well fed and attended, and their wants should, as far as 
possible, be anticipated : whereas these had to depend upon a tardy com¬ 
munication with the parent colony. A lakh of rupees, properly dis¬ 
bursed at first, would avail more than five lakhs in as many years. The 
natives brought us some excellent sugar-cane, which they cultivate for 
their own use. It appears there is some intercourse between this island 
and the Great Nicobar. Here also the Malays carry on much trade, and 
have probably instigated to some of the massacres. On leaving this 
harbour, we found that some of our visitors from Napcowry had managed 
to steal the brass rowlocks of our cutter. 

Tuesday , 15?^ April. —Weighed and worked out through the S. W. 
entrance of the harbour, where the wind failed us in the narrowest part, 
and the current setting strong on to the rocks, we were obliged again to 
have recourse to the sweeps, to which alone we were indebted for the safe¬ 
ty of the vessel. Having at last gained an offing, we stood N., with 
light winds, and anchored at 8 p. m., in 12 fathoms water, off the N. W. 
side of Katchall : saw a brig working to the southward, distance about 
six miles W. Therm. 87.° 

Wednesday, 16th April. —At daylight weighed and worked to the 
southward, with light variable winds, against a strong S. W. current : saw 
the brig to the eastward of us, having drifted about 10 miles whilst we 
remained at anchor. At night again at anchor off Katchall, J mile from 
the shore, bottom sandy. This island is of considerable extent, and 
covered with forest and jungle. The human inhabitants are very few, 
but the island swarms with monkeys who destroy the cocoanuts. Mynahs, 
tortoise-shell, and ambergris are procured here. 

Thursday, 17th April. —Weighed again, calms and light winds : 
a boat from Katchall came alongside, bringing fruit and birds. 
M. Plaisant went on shore in her. We saw a large vessel coming up with 
a southerly breeze; made sail to meet her, and went on board : she 
proved to be the Cecilia, Capt. Norris, from the Isle of France to 
Moulmein, in ballast, intending to pick up a cargo of nuts at the Nico- 
bars. Forwarded letters and journal by this opportunity. We after¬ 
wards spoke the brig, which proved to be a Dutch vessel, deep laden with 
rice, from Arracan to Padang. Made sail again to the southward. 

Friday, 18 th April. —Light variable winds w r ith calms, and a strong 
current against us Long., by bearing, S., 93 13' E., by chron. 93 

14' 45" E. Bar. 29-90. Therm. 89°. 

Saturday, 19 th April. —Calms : drifted about with the current, and 
attempted to land. Therm. 115° and not a breath of air. 

Sunday, 20 th April. —Light westerly breezes, with fine weather. 
At 9 a. M., abreast of Meroe Island: carried soundings all along to the 
Little Nicobar, from 8 to 35 fathoms, sand. Passed a singular shoal of 


( 20 ) 


sharks and bonitoes of remarkable beauty. Came in with the land a 
little N. of St. George's Channel, and stood to the N. W., with a lead¬ 
ing wind; at 4 p. m. anchored to the westward of the island that forms 
one side of the N. W. bay, in 15 fathoms sand and shells, the current 
running N. E. and S. W., at four knots an hour. Went on shore, where 
we met some natives who spoke Malay, and were informed by them that 
the other or N. W. side of the island afforded far better and safer 
anchorage. 

Monday , 21st April .—A few of the natives visited us, bringing 
fowls and fruit, two of them remaining with us the whole day. At 
2 p. m. weighed, and ran into the N. W. harbour, which is quite safe and 
is protected from all points but the N. W. 

The Little Nicobar is entirely covered with jungle, and presents only 
a succession of hills and valleys, the former of which rise to about the 
height of 1,000 or 1,200 feet above the level of the sea. The popula¬ 
tion appears to be very scanty; and, unlike the other islanders, these 
have no villages, but build only two or three huts together on the beach, 
where alone are grown the betelnut and cocoanut trees. We showed 
the natives some English coal, and promised a reward if they brought 
us some like it, to which they readily agreed, adding afterwards that they 
would bring it from the opposite island. Landed in search of water, 
and found a stream close to the shore on the main island. 

Tuesday , 22 nd April. —Employed in watering. The timber that 
covers the island seems but of little value. Towards evening, the natives 
brought us coal in considerable quantity found on Trice Island at low 
water : it resembles lignite, or half-charred wood; is very heavy com¬ 
pared with coal, burns freely, emits a strong sulphurous vapour, and 
leaves a whitish-brown ash. We gave those who brought it $5 in 
cash and tobacco, with handkerchiefs and looking glasses to an equal 
amount. We also agreed with them to cross over to Trice Island on the 
following morning, in order to search for a bed of coal. Our two friends, 
by name “ Tallasa" and “ Sadoola,” remained on board, and ate and 
drank at our meals : they liked rice, rejected nothing that was offered 
them, and drank their arrack, not forgetting cocoanut water and occa¬ 
sionally toddy. The weather was exceedingly oppressive, the heat under 
the awning where we lived being frequently above 100°, and not a 
breath of air stirring : occasionally, however, a squall would refresh us a 
little. The cocoanuts here are not equal in size to those of Car-Nicobar, 
nor are they so plentiful; but the water of them is far sweeter and 
cooler, and to us appeared more refreshing under the burning sun. We 
found pine-apples growing wild in abundance, but they were not good : 
the limes, or rather lemons (for they are exactly the same in all 
respects—shape, flavour, colour and taste, as those of Spain) were 
excellent, but not very plentiful. 

Wednesday , 23 rcl April.—At daylight started in the cutter for Trice 
Island, distant 5J miles, provisioned for the whole day, our two friends 
who spoke Malay, accompanying us in their canoe. We found the land¬ 
ing very difficult and dangerous : although there was but one break to 
the suif, the beach, which is of fine sand, being very steep, caused so 


( 21 ) 


strong an under-tow, that had we attempted to approach in our own cut¬ 
ter, we should assuredly have been dashed to pieces : we were therefore 
obliged to anchor our boat at some distance from the shore, and land, one 
at a time, in their canoe. We examined all parts of the island, which 
is rather low and sandy, but covered with a beautiful vegetation. We 
found here several magnificent specimens of the banian tree: one in 
particular, situated nearly in the centre of the island, covers a space of 
ground one-third of a mile in circumference : its branches were literally 
swarming with birds, amongst which were parrots,several kinds of pigeons, 
mynalis , king-fishers, and one very large white eagle, which we wound¬ 
ed, but pursued in vain through the impenetrable jungle into which he 
fell; to all appearance this was a magnificent bird. We shot as many 
of the other birds as we could cany away. The west side of the island 
is a high abrupt hill or rock, and seems as if separated by some convul¬ 
sion of nature from the opposite island of Track, distant about a rifle-shot, 
where the surf was so great that the natives declined landing us. After 
breakfast, we took some rest and waited for low water, in order to walk 
round the island in search of coal, of which we found only a few small 
pieces, scarcely the size of the palm of the hand. The rock consists of 
sandstone, clay, and slate, with occasionally a vein of some hard stone, like 
mica: we brought specimens of these, but found no coal-bed. The 
islanders, when questioned on the subject, called the water-worn fragments 
of coal “ heaven stone” ( ikkoo battoo), and said they were found after 
heavy thunder-storms and rain; that coal was never met with inland, 
nor washed down by hill torrents and ravines. These coals, particularly 
the large pieces, many of which are nearly 18 inches square, by 9 or 10 
inches thick, bear evident marks of having been long subject to the 
action of the waves; but yet it seems hardly probable that they should have 
been washed up from the deep, and have passed through the tremendous 
surf, and over coral rocks, without being shattered into small pieces. We 
walked across the island, and then round it a distance of about 2J miles, 
collecting shells, many of which were very beautiful. At 4-15 p. m. we 
quitted the island in the same manner that we landed, having been much 
amused with the day's sport, though disappointed in our main object. 
Arrived on board at 6 p. M., during a severe squall and rain that cooled 
the atmosphere. 

Thursday , 24 th April. —Boat employed in watering. We attempted 
to stuff the birds we had shot the previous day, but we were not very 
successful. Our native friends paid us visits. Another boat brought a 
sample of coal, a large piece said to have been found on Busch Island. 
Captain Lewis was engaged in surveying and sounding. Bar. 29 84; 
ther. 95°; hot and sultry. We were anxious to .pay another visit to 
Trice, and, if possible, to Meroe, so we arranged with our friends Sadoola 
and Tallassa for another trip, in canoes only, to start by daylight. 

Friday, Zhth April. —Disappointed, the canoe did not come off till 
after breakfast, owing, it would appear, to a feast and debauch the previ¬ 
ous evening. Whilst the boat was employed watering, we availed 
ourselves of the canoe to land on Busch Island, and made an excursion 
inland • we ascended, with much trouble, and with the assistance of our 
cutlasses, to the top of a hill, scarcely 175 feet high, but which was nearly 



( 22 ) 


perpendicular and overgrown with jungle; from whence we had a 
tolerable ] view of the harbour. Rattans of very large size, in great 
abundance, but apparently of an inferior quality, grow on the island. 
We observed a tree of enormous size overthrown; it had evidently been 
attacked by white ants, which appear to be plentiful; the wood was the 
common poon of Penang. Returned to the beach, and entered one or two 
of the huts, in which we saw some images of Burmese manufacture : we 
then resumed our cruise in the inner harbour, where we found a cave swarm¬ 
ing with small birds, some of which we shot, and found that they were the 
same that prepared the celebrated edible birds' nests; but we did not suc¬ 
ceed in our attempt to find their nests. We found the remains of some 
Malay houses, which are inhabited six or eight months of the year ; their oc¬ 
cupants preparing tripang, collecting birds' nests and turtle-shell, and dis¬ 
posing at the same time of their rice-arrack, and printed goods : no doubt, 
they make a good thing of it. What the amount of trade may be, or whe¬ 
ther it would remunerate a European, is difficult to say; the small popula¬ 
tion and their indolence and independence, render it doubtful. We bought 
a canoe for $5, in order to replace our lost jolly boat; and engaged 
our two friends to accompany us as guides, pilots, and interpreters. We 
visited their houses, obtained sundry curiosities, and returned on board 
at 3 p. M. There is excellent and safe anchorage far into the harbour. At 
the bottom of it, there seems to be an extensive lagoon covered with 
rank grass and trees, which looked very unwholesome : it is said to be 
swarming with alligators. 

Saturday, 26t/i April. —At 4 p. m. weighed with the flood-tide, and 
stood out between Track Island and the N. point of Little Nicobar; a 
clear passage, with soundings from 30 to 50 fathoms, and distance 
between the islands 4J miles : the tide sets through the channel at a rate 
of four knots an hour. Stood S. S. E. for the Great Nicobar, and fell 
in with some eddies and ripples, a phenomenon which is very common 
among these islands. We passed close to the E. side of Pulo Monthoule, 
between which and the Little Nicobar there is a safe passage. The 
E. side, like the N. W., seems to be one mass of hills and jungle thinly 
inhabited, and containing but few cocoanut trees. Towards noon, crossed 
the mouth of St. George's Channel, passing inside of Pulo Cabra, a small 
high island with plenty of cocoanut and betelnut trees : had a few casts of 
the lead 4 miles off shore in 34 fathoms. At 6-45. p. m. anchored in a fine 
bay on the N. E. of Great Nicobar, in 27 fathoms, good holding ground. 
A small canoe came off with fruit, which was exchanged for cheroots. 

Sunday , 2 1th April. —In the morning a canoe came alongside with 
fruit, and offered us some birds' nests, which we purchased, giving 2 fathoms 
of coarse handkerchiefs and an old waistcoat for 9^ drs. weight of nests. 
The islanders here spoke Portuguese, had been often at Nan cowry, and 
even to Penang, having had much intercourse with the Malays; their 
appearance is not prepossessing. One or two pieces of coal were brought 
us here of rather better quality. The Great, like the Little Nicobar 
consists of but one succession of jungle-covered hills, rising from the 
shore: not a cleared spot is to be seen, except here and there a slip of 
land: the mountains are much higher. We went on shore, and were 
overtaken by a tremendous squall. On enquiring of our native friends from 













( 23 ) 


the Little Nicobar, we were told that the interior of the Great Nicobar 
is occupied by a widely different race of savages, who are always at war 
with those on the sea-shore : they are armed with bows and arrows ; 
and about their cruelty many tales are told. Captain Lewis was engaged 
surveying. & 6 

Monday , 28 th April. —At daylight weighed, and stood to the south¬ 
ward with light S. W. airs. At 2-30 p. m. anchored in another bay, distant 
about 9 miles, surrounded by high hills and rocks : landed, and found a 
stream of fresh water which runs into a deep basin, where ships might 
fill up with ease, by landing close to it. Here the trees are very lofty 
and birds innumerable, but very shy, and soaring over the tops of the 
trees, beyond reach of shot: some of them bore resemblance to birds of 
paradise, but had not their brilliant colors. We met with no inhab¬ 
itants, nor are there any cocoanut trees. 

Tuesday , 29 th April. —Went on shore to examine the formation of 
some rocks near the watering-place. Penetrated a considerable dis¬ 
tance into the jungle, but found nothing interesting: the rocks consisted 
of the usual soft sandstone and clay slate; we brought off some few 
shells and a piece of coal. Captain Lewis measured the nearest hill, and 
found it to be 1,575 feet above the level of the sea; others inland rise 
much above it. At 11 a. m. weighed, worked to the southward, and 
at 2-30 p. M. anchored again in a deep bight, where we landed, and found 
that the natives had all fled : we saw six or seven small huts and a large 
Malay building ; examined some curious rocks which were about a mus¬ 
ket-shot from the shore, and covered with trees, on approaching which 
an immense cloud of birds rose on the wing. 

Wednesday , 30 th April. —At daylight sent our two guides on shore, 
to prevail on the natives to appear, but waited in vain. At 10-30 
weighed and stood out; 1-30 p. m. a heavy squall from the westward 
with much rain; steered S. S. W. At 4 p. M. we ran in between a rock 
(10 feet above water) and the land, the passage being three quarters of a 
mile broad, but not safe, as there are several other rocks under water, and 
some just awash. At 6-30 p. m. anchored in a bight, in 14 fathoms sand, 
half mile from shore : cloudy dirty weather. Bar. 29*80; ther. 90°. 
Had no communication with the natives, and could see no huts. 

Thursday , 1^ May. —At daylight weighed and made sail for a bay 
on the S. E. side of the island. At 5-30 p. m. anchored in 8 fathoms, 
sandy bottom; a heavy swell from the south. This bay is remarkable for 
having rocks at both extremities : there is but one small landing-place, 
as the surf breaks violently all round the bay. 

Friday , 2 nd May. —Went on shore; the natives had fled from their 
huts, but came back again at the call of our guides. Found five or six 
rather respectable huts. The natives all, more or less, affect Malay manners. 
After surveying the bay, we went to examine the river at the bottom, and 
found it deep, and about a pistol-sbot across, with a considerable bar at 
its entrance : we launched a canoe in order to ascend it, but not under¬ 
standing the proper management, we narrowly escaped being upset; 
we were, however, well wetted : the natives informed us that it was 
navigable one or two days' journey inland ; but we had not the means 
or the forces to carry on the expedition in this direction, even had the 


( 24 ) 


season admitted of it. It occurred to us that the earliest Danish 
settlement under the East India Company, in 1756, might have been 
here ; but we could find no trace of it, nor could the natives afford us 
any clue. They were not very communicative : on our asking about 
coal, they pointed to a promontory in a S. W. direction, as containing 
quantities of it: we therefore furnished ourselves with guides, proceeded 
a considerable distance in that direction, and examined two most remark¬ 
able rocks, having the appearance of a square battery with men or statues 
on the top ; we found them to be immense masses of clayey slate stone, 
in which large pebbles had been imbedded. We shot some birds, and we 
saw numbers of large monkeys, but could not get near them. The 
timber is inferior, being loose and rent. Returned on board at 4 P. M., 
unsuccessful as to the coal; but we obtained some provisions in the shape 
of fowls and plantains. There seem to be more inhabitants here, on the 
southern part of the island, and the land is more open and level. The 
bay is exposed from S. to E., but offers good protection against the N. E. 
monsoon : landing is rather difficult. 

Saturday, 2>)d May. —Weighed at daylight, and worked out of the 
bay : hove to for Mr. Lowert and our two guides, who went in the canoe 
to explore the N. W. point of the bay; they found nothing remarkable, 
but brought a few specimens of the rocks. At 11-20 a. m., having 
turned the southern point and a reef extending 1^ mile beyond it, we 
bore away N. N. W., running as close along the shore as was prudent. 
We observed a few huts here and there, surrounded by cocoanut trees ; 
but everywhere surf, and no safe anchorage nor landing in this monsoon, 
which now seems to have commenced in earnest. The land is lower but 
quite as jungly as on the other side : we could nowhere perceive symp¬ 
toms of the inhabitants on the hills, not even a fire. Running before a 
S. W. breeze at the rate of eight knots an hour, at 5 p. m. we opened 
St. George^s Channel, and being flood tide we stood in ; the wind having 
suddenly fallen light, we got into the strong eddies, and were carried 
close to some ugly reefs extending off the north point of Pulo Caudul ; 
fortunately the tide carried us clear through. We worked over under 
the Great Nicobar, and at 9 p. m. anchored in 38 fathoms : at 10 p. m. 
a heavy squall with much rain and lightning. 

Sunday, 4 th May.— Weighed at 7 a. m., and worked into 10 fathoms, 
sand and shells. 

Mr. Busch being unwell, Mr. Lowert and the second officer went on 
shore with our guides and some of the islanders who came to visit 
us. They walked all over the island, found it well inhabited, and covered 
with cocoanut and betelnut trees : they brought off some curious 
specimens of rock, and also the soi-disant Rajah of Pulo Caudul, other¬ 
wise a wealthy, respectable, and ugly inhabitant of the island, by name 
Tomorra, who remained on board all night. The inhabitants of the 
Great Nicobar had deserted their huts, though one or two visited us in 
their boats : one boat from Pulo Caudul brought us a specimen of coal 
small but very fair. This island being situate in the entrance of the 
channel, and directly between the Great and Little Nicobar, we resolved 
to erect a flagstaff on it; and, taking possession of the island in the name 
of His Majesty of Denmark, to hoist the Danish ensign and ^i ve this 
in charge to the said Tomorra, Rajah of Caudul. 












( 25 ) 


Monday, 5 th May .—Weighed and worked the vessel close in shore 
of Ptilo Caudul, and found 30 fathoms water close to. Having invested 
Tomorra with an honorary dress, he, with the other natives, accompanied 
Mr. Lowert on shore, where they erected a flagstaff in front of their 
huts: Mr. Lo wert having instructed him (as well as the difficulty of 
language would permit of) in the meaning of the ceremony, and of the 
duties he undertook, delivered to him a certificate in English and Danish, 
and finally hoisted the flag, drinking His Majesty's health, to which 
our little vessel responded with a full salute. 

At 4 p. m. we took leave of our friends, stood across the channel, 
and proceeded close to the coast of the Little Nicobar, where we saw 
only a few huts and a steep bold rocky shore. At 6 p. m. we rounded 
the E. point of Little Nicobar, and anchored in the channel between 
that and Monthoule Island, in 7 fathoms, but slipped into 20 fathoms. 
Went on shore, and saw a few huts and about 30 inhabitants, all friends 
and connexions of our guides. We shot a few birds, and returned on board. 

Tuesday , 6th May .—At daylight landed on the Island of Monthoule, 
which is entirely of coral formation : there are a few huts and cocoanut 
trees; but nothing remarkable. We found no coal. The channel is If 
mile broad, and perfectly safe. At 8 a. m. weighed and stood for the 
N. W. bay of Little Nicobar, in order to land our guides and replenish 
our stock. At 12-15 p. m. anchored in the harbour, and at 2 p. m. our 
guides landed, laden with presents. Sent some planks on shore in order 
to erect a hut. Cloudy squally weather. Thermometer 89°. 

Wednesday , 7 th May. —Employed the carpenters to obtain samples 
of wood, and erecting a flagstaff near the houses. It came on to blow 
hard, with heavy swell from S. W. : we let go the second anchor, and 
veered out to 60 fathoms; bar, 29*85; ther. 77°. Mr. Busch had, for 
some days, suffered from a severe headache, and this weather rendered it 
much worse. 

Thursday , 8 th May. —Weather continued bad, raining and blowing 
hard, which rendered it rather uncomfortable on board the small craft. 
Weighed and stood further into the harbour for smooth water, and 
anchored in 11 fathoms, sand, and smooth as a pond: we sent down 
yards, housed topmasts, and attempted watering. 

Friday , 9 th May .—Blowing hard from S. W. to N. W., with much 
rain. In the afternoon, we hoisted the Danish flag on the new flagstaff, 
which was 63 feet in length. We took possession of the island in the 
name of His Majesty of Denmark, fired a salute, and left our guides 
Sadoola and Talassa to take charge of it till our return. This harbour, 
which without exception is the finest we have seen, and possesses many 
advantages, we designated after Horsburg, the N. W. Harbour. We did 
not think it necessary to give new names to any of the islands and other 
places we visited, reserving that task for a future expedition, and agreeing 
at the same time that nothing was more proper than to retain the native 
denominations where any existed. 

Capt. Lewis having obtained the needful observations, and other 
information for an accurate marine survey of these islands, and being of 
opinion that continuing longer amongst them was useless, now that the 
monsoon had set in; and, moreover, finding that the sailing qualities of 

4 



( ^6 ) 


the little vessel did not by any means come up to our expectations, it 
became a question whether we should proceed via Lancava to Penang*, 
or return to Calcutta at once, Mr. Busch suffering at the time much from 
an intense headache, preferred the latter. Moreover, the coals we found, 
being an object deserving of attention, could only be examined in Cal¬ 
cutta. It would, besides, have been out of the question to bring over 
laborers from Penang during the rainy and unhealthy season. We 
therefore decided to complete provisions, and bear away for Calcutta, 
touching at Terressa on our way. Respecting the coal we could obtain 
no further information. 

Saturday, 10 th May. —The weather having moderated a little, we 
weighed and stood N. W. by W., with a fresh breeze from S. W., and 
occasionally a heavy squall: at 2 p. m. fetched the S. W. point of 
Katchall, having experienced a set of 21 miles in this short passage. 
Stood then for the Nancowry Channel, where we anchored at 6 p. M., 
in 11 fathoms, on the E. side of Katchall, distant 1 mile* 

Sunday , 11 th May .—Weighed, stood through the channel, and 
worked across to Terressa with a strong W. breeze and heavy squalls : 
rounded the E. point of Bompoka, and worked into the bay, where we 
anchored at 5 p. m., in 20 fathoms, about 100 fathoms from the shore 
of Terressa. 

Landed, and found that the French Missionaries had left in the 
Steamer Phlegethon , which, about a fortnight ago, had visited the island, 
and stayed there three or four days. The Missionaries had left no letters 
for us, though we had told them of our intention of returning; but a 
verbal message and some birds were conveyed through our friend 
Gold-mohur. The Missionaries, having both suffered from repeated fevers, 
mentioned that there was a probability of their being removed, but not 
so soon. It is remarkable that they have left behind them all their 
property, and have told the natives that they might possibly return. 
Mr. Lowert went on shore, and was rather successful in his sport, 
bringing on board five or six different species of birds, which we helped 
him to stuff. He also brought specimens of the soil on the high land, 
which is a red clay, with stones having a burnt appearance, and one or 
two being certainly metallic; he likewise brought a sample of the stunted 
tree or bush that grows here, but unfortunately our goat got hold of it, 
and devoured it greedily. We here purchased a moderate quantity of 
fine turtle-shell, for German-silver soup-ladles of various sizes. We 
obtained about 20 pounds, some of it very stout and fine. 

Monday, Ylth May .—Captain Lewis completed his survey. 
Mr. Lowert made several excursions on shore, and found that the rain had 
rendered the roads to Lackshee very bad. Captain Lewis brought some 
fine specimens of dammer, which can be had here in quantity, also some 
very large shells nearly 2 feet in diameter, which are much valued by the 
Chinese : we purchased a number of fowls, and a curious squid or ink fish. 

Tuesday, 13 th May, 12 a. m.— Weighed and steered across for the 
Island of Tillangchong. We endeavoured to round the south point, but 
were unable to do so, partly on account of the heavy sea, and partly by 
reason of the vessel, which, as before mentioned, does not perform what 
we had expected of her. At 4 p. m. we bore away for Calcutta. The 
Island of Tillangchong has only of late become inhabited by some 



( 27 ) 


emigrants from Nancowry and the north of Carmorta : its appearance 
is hilly and jungly, with breakers all along the west side; nothing is 
known of it, but it would probably have well repaid a visit, had more 
moderate weather permitted of our approaching it. 

Wednesday , 14^ May. —We rounded the N. point of Car-Nicobar, 
distant 1| mile. Fresh S. W. breeze, and fine weather. Ther. 9b°, bar. 
falling. 

Thursday , 15 th May. —Steering N. N. W. with S. W. and S. breeze; 
we sighted a brig standing to the westward, with a top-gallant sail bent 
instead of the fore-topsail—ther. from 78° to 100°, under the awning. 

Friday , 1 ^th May. —Fine weather and hot. 

Saturday , 17 th May. —Passed the Barque Champion from Calcutta to 
the Isle of France. 

Sunday , \%th May. —Strong W. wind and cloudy weather. At 
midnight we crossed over the Pilot's Bidge. 

Monday , 19^7* May. —At daylight hove to for a pilot, but not seeing 
any, we stood across the tails of the sands, and at 1 p. m. passed the 
reef buoy and bore away for the inner floating light, with a strong S. W. 
breeze. It being ebb at the time, and the wind and tide meeting, the 
sea ran tremendously high, and often threatened to swamp the EspiAgle. 
We passed the inner floating light, and several vessels beating out, but 
could get no pilot: stood on for Kedgeree, where we found a pilot-vessel 
at anchor; brought up close to her, and got a young mate to take us up. 

Tuesday , 20 th May. —At 2 p. m. anchored off Calcutta, having been 
absent in all two months and six days. 


Copy of Certificate given to Tomorra, alias the Rajah of Fulo Caudul } in 

whose charge the Banish Ensign was left. 

“ To all persons who may visit the Islands of Pulo Caudul and Great 
Nicobar, we do hereby certify that, having this day hoisted the Danish 
Ensign on these two islands, we have resumed possession thereof in the 
name of His Danish Majesty, King Christian VIII. : we have en¬ 
trusted the flag to the headman of Pulo Caudul, by name Tomorra, in 
order that he may guard the same until further measures can be taken 
for the contemplated occupation and colonization of the said islands. 

“ As far as our limited knowledge goes, we recommend the said 
Tomorra as an honest and useful man." 

(Signed) H. LEWIS, (Signed) H. BUSCH, 

Comdg. L'Espiegle. In charge of the Expedition . 

(Signed) P. C. LOWERT, 

Attached to the Expedition . 

On hoard the Schooner L'Espiegle, of Fulo Caudul, 

§th May 1845. 


[ [The same in Danish and English was given to Sadoolah at Little Nicobar.] 





( 28 ) 

APPENDIX. 


Analytical "Report on specimens of Coal from the Nicobars, 31^ May 

1845. 

No. 1.—Fibrous Slaty Coal, with large conchoidal cross fracture, 
principal fracture curved slaty : lustre of the cross and longitudinal frac¬ 
tures shining black, but dull on the slaty fracture. 

Sp. gr. 1 3 

Bituminous and volatile matter ... ... ... 61 4 

Carbon ... ... ... ... 34 2 

Dark brown ash ... ... ... ... 4 2 in 

100 parts 

No. 2.—Alternate slaty layers of black pitchy coal, and fibrous 
slaty bituminous schist. 

Sp- gr.1 3 

Bituminous and volatile matter ... ... ... 57 

Carbon ... ... ... ... ... 40 

Ash (dark brown) ... ... ... ... ... 3 in 

100 parts 


No. 3.—Mass of hard coal, much weathered, somewhat of a fibrous 
structure, with a conchoidal cross-fracture. Cross-fracture shining, 
with pitchy black lustre; the longitudinal fracture dull. 


Sp. gr. ... ... 1 3 

Volatile and bituminous matter, ... 

Carbon ... ... ... .< 

Dark brown ash . 


... 49 
... 46 
... 5 in 


100 parts 


These specimens of coal, though collected in various parts of the 
Nicobars, would seem to be very much alike in their nature, though 
differing a little in appearance. 

They have been no doubt injured by long exposure in the sands to 
the weather and tojthe sun as well as water. To this cause is due their 
burning with little flame, as well as their hardness and great specific 
gravity. But otherwise they are, or at least were, good coal. They 
seem to bear both in appearance and chemical properties a nearer resem¬ 
blance to the pitch or Cannel coal of the Little Tenasserim river, than 
any other specimen I have seen. 

The circumstance of their being all so nearly alike is a favorable 
indication of the probable existence of one great bed, extending to a con¬ 
siderable proportion through the islands. 

(Signed) j. McClelland, 

Secretary, Coal Committee . 

H. Co.’s Dispensary , ) 

3lst May 1845. j 










( 29 ) 


The following 1 are the only collections in Natural History which the 
officers of the expedition succeeded in preserving :— 

Mammalia. 

Macacus cynomolgus. —This is the common small long-tailed monkey 
of the neighbouring coasts, which to the northward is replaced along the 
eastern side of the bay by M. carlonarius . 

Sus. —The Nicobar pigs appear to have been derived from the 
Chinese race, turned loose upon some of the islands. 

Birds. 

Todiramphtis collaris. —Common blue afid white kingfisher. This 
bird is plentiful along the whole eastern side of the bay, and in the 
Bengal Soonderbuns. On the western side it is rare. 

Merops Philippinensis .—Blue-tailed bee-eater: abundant both in 
India and in the Malay countries. 

Collocalia esculenta. —The constructor of the celebrated edible nests, 
the substance of which is secreted by the very large salivary glands with 
which this bird is provided, in common with other species of the group 
of swifts. 

Gracula religiosa .—The large hill mynah of the Malay countries, 
which is found thence up to Assam and in the Sub-Himilayan region; 
but in the Peninsula of India it is replaced by another and smaller kind, 
the Gr. Indica . 

Calornis cantor. —This species is very common in the Nicobars. It 
is generally diffused through the Malay countries, and is found up the 
eastern side of the Bay of Bengal, so high as Tipperah. 

Oriolus .—A species of Oriole, or Mango-bird, nearly allied to the 
0 . chinensis , and being the fourth or fifth kind now known which has a 
black nape-mark, more or less broad in the different species. 

Hypsipete. —A species nearly allied to H. Malaccensis , and which 
therefore may be just admitted into the genus in which it is here placed. 

Myiagra ccerulea. —This beautiful fly-catcher is common to India 
and the Malay countries, and is especially numerous in Lower Bengal 
during the cold season. 

Zosterops Nicobaricus , a new species distinct both from Z. annulosus 
of India, and Z.Jiavus of the Malay countries. 

Nectarinia pectoralis .—A common Malayan species of honey- 
sucker. 


( 30 ) 


Treron chloroptera .—A species of hurrial pigeon, nearly allied to 
Tr. pompadora of India, but larger, and with more green on the fore-part 
of the wings. 

Carpophaga bicolor .—The beautiful white cliff pigeon of the Straits. 
It is very common in the Nicobar Islands. 

C. cenea .—Another very handsome pigeon, common to India and 
the Malay countries, but especially numerous in the territories lying 
eastward of the Bay of Bengal. 

Calosnas Nicobaricus .—The well known splendid ground pigeon of 
the Nicobars. Some young birds of this species were caught, by giving 
chase to them on the ground; and two were brought alive to Calcutta. 
It is also met with in the Andamans, and in the Cocos Islands. 

Pelicanus Philippensis .—The smaller Indian pelican, which seems 
to be the predominating species in the Malay countries. 

Phaeton athereus .—A specimen of this, the boatswain-bird of marin¬ 
ers, was shot and obtained during the run to the Sandheads. It is a 
different species from the one so common at the Mauritius. 

Reptiles. 

Chelonia imbricata .-—The true tortoise-shell turtle. 

Ch. midas .—The edible turtle: some pieces of shell were brought 
which evidently belonged to this species. 

Viper a /—A small viper, a more pointed head than is seen in the 
more characteristic members of this genus. 

Pelamydes platurus , or an allied species having a much greater 
portion of its tail banded, the bands diminishing to festoons anteriorly 
until they are gradually lost. ^ 3 


Fishes. 

Dactyloptera .—A second species of this genus from the Bay of 
Bengal, distinguished by the much greater dimensions of its ventral fins 
and by several other characters. 3 


Mollusca. 

Sepia .—A large species of cuttle or squid. 

Crustacea. 

Pagurus punctulatus, or a nearly allied species, common in the Bay 
of Bengal, and attaining seven or eight inches in length. ^ 



( 31 ) 


Letters on the Nicobar Islands, their Natural Productions, and the Man¬ 
ners, Customs, and Superstitions of the Natives , Sfc. Sfc. Addressed 
by the Rev . John Gottfried Ilaensel (the only surviving Missionary), 
to the Rev . C. I. Latrobe, 181£. 

To William Wilberforce, Esq., m. p., &c., &c., &c. 

Dear Sir, —Your obliging inquiries concerning the attempt made by 
the Church of the United Brethren to establish a mission in the Nicobar 
Islands, I have not been able hitherto to answer as fully as I wished, 
the documents in my possession being few and unconnected, and a refer¬ 
ence to Crantz’s History of the Brethren, pp. 504 and 614, furnishing 
but a short notice of the commencement of that undertaking. The 
difficulty attending our correspondence with our Brethren on the 
Continent has, likewise, so much increased, that I cannot expect to be 
soon supplied with more detailed accounts from our archives; and the 
continuation of Crantz } s History, in which a concise report of the pro¬ 
gress of the mission is inserted, is not translated into English. I was 
glad, therefore, unexpectedly to meet with an opportunity of conversing 
with John Gottfried Haensel, a Missionary from St. Thomas in the West 
Indies, who was formerly employed in the Nicobar Mission, and resided 
for seven years in the Island of Nancowry. This worthy veteran has 
spent eighteen years in the East, and seventeen in the West Indies, and 
altogether thirty-eight years in the service of the Brethren's missions ; 
yet by God's blessing, after suffering numberless hardships and dangerous 
illnesses, at the age of sixty-three, he remains a most active, cheerful, 
and zealous laborer in the Lord's vineyard. 

In the course of our frequent conversations on various subjects 
relating to the occurences of his past life, he interspersed so many 
curious and interesting particulars concerning his residence in the Nico¬ 
bar Islands, that I could not help requesting him to commit them to 
writing as they might occur to his recollection. This he very obliging¬ 
ly consented to do; and though, by my particular desire, he did not 
study to make out a complete history, the labor and formality of which 
might have suppressed, in a great degree, the liveliness of his manner, 
but left the arrangement of the subjects to me; yet I am of opinion 
that you will read what he has written with pleasure, and esteem these 
fragments worthy of preservation. Many of your questions will be 
pretty satisfactorily answered by them, and I have therefore translated 
them for your perusal. They exhibit a degree of patience and per¬ 
severance in the prosecution of missionary labors, in hope against hope, 
such as has hardly been exceeded in our Greenland and North American 
Missions, with the history of which you are acquainted. 

The mission of the United Brethren in the Nicobar Islands was 
undertaken in the year 1758. A person of high rank at the Court of 
Denmark having intimated to the Directors of the Brethren's Missions 
that it would give particular pleasure to the King if some of their 
Missionaries would settle on the Nicobar Islands and endeavour to 
instruct the inhabitants in the principles of the Christian religion, they 
resolved to comply with His Majesty's wishes. 


( 33 ) 


A commercial establishment had been formed on these islands in 
1756, when the name of Frederic’s Islands was given to them; but the 
first attempt miscarried, and almost all the colonists sent thither from 
Tranquebar soon died. The Brethren, however, were not discouraged. 
After some negotiation with the Danish Asiatic Company, having obtain¬ 
ed an edict granting them necessary privileges to preach the gospel to the 
heathen, and to maintain their own church discipline and worship., they 
agreed to begin the work, and several Brethren offered themselves for 
this service. The names of the first Missionaries were George John 
Stahlman, Adam Gottlieb Voelcker, and Christopher Butler. They 
arrived July £, 1760, at Tranquebar, and were received by the Governor 
and all the inhabitants with much cordiality. 

As an establishment on the Coast of Coramandel was found indispen¬ 
sably necessary to support the new mission, they bought a piece of ground, 
about a mile from Tranquebar, built a house with out-houses and 
work-shops, and maintained themselves by their several trades. This 
settlement was called The Brethren 3 s Garden . 

A second Company followed them in the same year. According to 
directions given by the Brethren in Europe, they carefully avoided all 
interference with the worthy Lutheran Missionaries residing at Tranque¬ 
bar, by whose pious exertions many Malabars had been converted to 
Christianity. 

The Danish East India Company not being able to renew their 
settlement in the Nicobar Islands as soon as was expected, offers were 
made to the Brethren by the English Governor of Bengal to settle 
on the Ganges; but they resolved to wait with patience for an 
opportunity to prosecute their first plan, and obtain the original aim of 
their mission to the East Indies. This presented itself in 1768, when 
the Danish Government formed a new establishment in the Nicobar 
Islands. Six Brethren were immediately ready to go thither. They 
settled on Nancowry. 

In 1769, several officers of the Company, with a party of soldiers 
and black servants, arrived from Tranquebar, and brought with^tliem 
a considerable quantity of merchandize. But they died so fast that 
in 1771 only two European soldiers and four Malabar servants survived. 
This second failure deterred the Company from repeating their attempt, 
and the project of establishing a factory in the Nicobar Islands was 
abandoned. The four Brethren residing there were charged with the 
sale of the remaining goods, and experienced no small inconvenience and 
trouble from this commission. 

In 1773, however, a vessel was sent from Tranquebar, which relieved 
them, by taking back the articles of trade left on hand, and bringing 
them the provisions they wanted. 

As the means of thus supplying the Missionaries with the necessaries 
of life, by uncertain communications with Tranquebar, were too preca¬ 
rious, the Brethren resolved to venture upon annually chartering a vessel 
for that purpose. Mr. Holford, an English gentleman residing at Tran¬ 
quebar, rendered them herein the most essential service. He joined them 
in fitting out a small ship, which arrived in 1775 with provisions, &c. 


( 33 ) 


at Nancowry, and returned with the produce of the country, the 
sale of which, however, by no means repaid the expense attending the 
outfit. Mr. Holford, nevertheless, did not lose courage. Another 
vessel was fitted out and sailed in 1776, but having missed the entrance 
into the Nicobar Islands, after long combating contrary winds and 
currents, she was obliged to cast anchor near Junkceylon, where she 
deposited her cargo. A third vessel had meanwhile set out for Nicobar, 
but was equally unsuccessful. Thus the difficulties attending the support 
of the settlement increasing, this and other causes mentioned in the 
course of the following letters occasioned the final abandonment of the 
mission in 1787. 

You will, however, perceive that Mr. Ilaensel expresses an opinion 
concerning future attempts to preach the gospel to the natives of the 
Nicobar Islands, which is by no means discouraging. 

With the sincerest esteem and gratitude for the many proofs you 
have given of your kind notice of the labors of the Church of the 
United Brethren among heathen nations— 

I remain ever, Dear Sir, Your most faithful friend and servant, 

C. I. LATROBE. 

London, 

1 m May 1812. 


Letter I. 

As you have desired me to repeat in writing the substance of our 
conversations respecting the Nicobar Islands, and the mission of the 
Brethren begun there in 1758, in which I was employed from the year 
1779, till the attempt was relinquished in 1787, I will endeavour, as far 
as my recollection will enable me, to satisfy your wishes. 

The Nicobar Islands are situated at the entrance of the Bay 
of Bengal, in 8° N. lat. and 94° 20' E. long., N. of Sumatra. 
Nancowry is one of the southernmost, and forms, with Camarty* to 
the north, a commodious harbour, sheltered to the eastward by a long 
but narrow island, called Trincuttee, flat, and abounding in cocoa trees; 
and to the westward, by Katchall, which is larger. Ships may ride 
here very safely. 

On the N. W. point of Nancowry, behind a low hill, and 
contiguous to the best landing-place, on a sandy beach, lay the mis¬ 
sionary-settlement of the United Brethren, called by the natives, Tripjet , 
or the dwelling of friends, where I arrived in January 17 79, in company 
of Brother Wangeman. On our passage hither we were driven by 
contrary winds to Queda, on the Malay coast. 

***** 


* See Asiatic Researches, Vol. II. p. 344; III. p. 292; IV. pp. 132, 328 . Rennet 
Memoir, p. 40, Carmorta is called Sampieri in Mr. Haensel’s MSS., and Sombreiro in 
French chart. 


5 








( 34 . ) 


Being at last enabled to proceed, we set sail for Nancowry. The 
Captain steered first for Pulo Penang (now Prince of Wales Island), 
pretending that he wanted fresh water; but he employed his lascars 
chiefly to cut rattan,* a plant used for rigging. 

We found at Nancowry three Missionaries, Liebisch, Heyne, and 
Blaschke. The latter being very ill, returned to Tranquebar by the 
vessel which brought us hither, and soon departed this life. Not long 
after his return. Brother Liebisch fell sick and also departed. Our 
number was therefore reduced to three, and I was soon seized with so 
violent a fit of the seasoning fever, that my Brethren, expecting my 
immediate dissolution, commended me in prayer to the Lord, and took 
a final leave of me. After this transaction, I fell into a swoon, which 
being mistaken for death, 1 was removed from the bed, and already 
laid out as a corpse. W hen I awoke and inquired what they were doing, 
and why they wept, they told me that, supposing me to be quite 
dead, they were preparing for my burial. My recovery was very slow; 
and, indeed, during my whole residence in Nancowry, I never regain¬ 
ed perfect health. 

After the decease of the Brethren Wangeman and Liebisch, I was 
left alone with Brother Heyne. We were both ill and suffered the 
want of many necessaries of life : but the Lord, our Saviour, did not 
forsake us. 


Letter II. 

The vessel sent to Nancowry did not arrive till 1781, and brought 
a very small portion of provisions for our use, and neither wine, nor any 
other liquors whatever, the crew having expended the greater part of 
what was destined for us on their long voyage, and during a detention 
of four months at Queda, on the Malay Coast. We were, however 
happy to receive Brother Steinman, who was young, lively, and every¬ 
way qualified for the service, so that we promised ourselves much assist¬ 
ance from him; but in less than a month after his arrival, it pleased 
the Lord to take him from us by death. You may suppose what we 
felt on being again left alone, in want of even the most necessary arti¬ 
cles of subsistence. 

We were as diligent as our wretched circumstances would admit 
in clearing land and planting to obtain what we wanted for our support; 
and having only three negroes to cook, wash, and do other jobs, we 
frequently labored beyond our strength, and brought upon ourselves 
various illnesses. But there seemed no help for it. At the same time 
we exerted ourselves to learn the Nicobar lanffua^e. 

Not till 1783 had we the satisfaction to see the Brethren 
J. Heinrich, Fleckner, and Raabs arrive to our assistance, in company of 
the mate of the vessel, with which they set sail from Tranquebar 
While they were lying in the roads of Junkceylon, a French privateer 


* Calamus Rotang. Lin,— Miller's Gard. Dictionary. 






( 85 ) 


came and claimed her as a lawful prize, because, on searching her, he 
found a few old English newspapers in a trunk belonging to Mr! Wilson, 
an English gentleman on board, who had escaped Hyder AlEs prison! 
This was pretence sufficient for a Frenchman to seize upon a neutral 
Danish vessel, nor could any redress be ever procured, to the great loss 
of the mission. After long and vexatious detention, the mate and the 
three Brethren purchased a Malay prow for 7 5 dollars, and stole off in 
the night, as the Malay Prince would not suffer them to go. Thus 
we received, instead of our expected stock of provisions, only more 
mouths to feed. However, we rejoiced to see our dear fellow-mission¬ 
aries, and did what we could for their relief. As the prow was unfit to 
go to sea without proper sails,—those with which they arrived being 
nothing but old rotten mats,—we worked up our whole stock of linen 
and sailcloth, and even some of our sheets, and were ten days employed 
in making sails and fitting her for the voyage. A black sailor was also 
procured, and the mate, with the Brethren Raabs and Heyne, left us 
for Tranquebar. 

The three following years of my stay were spent in fruitless 
attempts to preach the gospel to the natives, and the arrangements 
proposed and made by the new-comers seemed all to fail. But I cannot 
help observing that, when we speak of the total failure of our endea¬ 
vours to promote the conversion of the natives, we have cause in a 
great degree to blame ourselves. For my part, I must confess with 
humble shame, that I soon lost my faith and courage, brotherly love 
having ceased to prevail amongst us. 

Our external situation became more and more irksome, and we 
could scarcely procure the means of subsistence. My health had suffered 
so much by continual sickness, anxiety, and hard labor (for the greater 
part of the management of affairs fell upon me), that I was apparently 
fast appoaching my end, at the thoughts of which I rejoiced greatly, 
delivered my accounts and all my concerns into the hands of Brother 
J. Heinrich, looking forward with longing to be at rest with Jesus. I 
felt his comfort, pardon, and peace in my soul, and hoped that every day 
would be my last. I had running sores on my legs, and a total obstruc¬ 
tion, with tormenting pains in the bowels, and expected that mortification 
would soon take place and put an end to my misery. Unexpectedly a 
Danish vessel arrived in our harbour, on board of which was Brother 
Sixtus. He was commissioned to examine into the state of the mission, 
and to bring home such as were still alive. 

A voyage seeming to offer the only hope for my recovery, I was 
conveyed on board, apparently in a dying state, and set sail the same 
day for Queda. During the voyage the pain in my bowels was excru¬ 
ciating, and the motion of the ship afforded me no relief, insomuch that 
I could bear no other posture than lying prostrate on deck. In this 
situation it occurred to me that I had once read in Van Swieten's 
account of his cures, that he had found the plentiful use of honey 
beneficial in cases of obstruction. As soon, therefore, as we landed, 
I procured a sufficient quantity, and mixed it plentifully with my food 
and drink. My only nutriment indeed consisted of rice boiled in 


( 36 ) 


water, to which I added an equal quantity of honey, as also to all the 
water I drank, cold or warm, of which I took plenty, having a constant 
thirst upon me. Already on the first day it operated by sickness at my 
stomach and frequent vomitings, which rendered its taste extremely 
nauseous and unpleasant. But perceiving that it also relieved my 
principal complaint, I persevered, and experienced daily more of its 
salutary, cooling, and healing effects. As there is plenty of honey at 
Queda, I laid in a large stock for the voj^age. 

Here I became acquainted with Mr. Scott, an English captain, who 
informed me that Captain Light was in Bengal, and had lost his wife 
by death. From hence we returned to Nancowry, where I found that 
Brother Sixtus had departed this life ten days after my leaving the 
island. Brother J. Heinrich accompanied me to Tranquebar, and 
Fleckner remained alone. 

When we arrived at Tranquebar, we represented to the Governor 
that it was necessary that the vessel should immediately return for the 
relief of the mission, to which he agreed; and Fleckner being re-called, 
the Brethren J. Heinrich, Kudolphi, and Soerensen were sent thither 
in May 1785. The latter soon departed this life, as likewise Fleckner 
at Tranquebar. In September I returned to Nancowry, being com¬ 
missioned to convey the house, belonging to the Imperial settlement on 
Sombreiro (Carmorta) to our place, which I accomplished. Our old stone- 
house was turned into a magazine, and the Missionaries obtained a com¬ 
fortable dwelling, and a sufficient supply of provisions and other neces¬ 
saries. But as to any success in making the natives acquainted with 
the gospel, all our exertions seemed in vain. 

After my return to Tranquebar in 1786, Brother Budolphi left 
Nicobar, and arrived, after a long and tedious voyage, at Tranquebar in 
1787, not long after Brother J. Heinrich departed this life, and Brother 
Kragh remained alone. 

The loss of so many valuable men, the total failure of the object 
of the mission, and the want of proper Brethren, willing to devote 
thems Ives to so hopeless a cause, at length prevailed, and it v r as resolved 
to give up the mission. 1 was again deputed to go to Nancowry to 
fetch Brother Kragh, and all effects belonging to the mission, and to 
deliver up the premises to the Governor, who, on our representation of 
the impracticability of our supporting the mission any longer, had 
consented to send a lieutenant, a corporal, and six privates to take 
possession. I accompanied these people, and delivered to them every 
thing I could not carry away. 

Words cannot express the painful sensations which crowded into 
my mind while I was thus executing the task committed to me, and 
making a final conclusion of the labors of the Brethren in the Nicobar 
Islands. I remembered the numberless prayers, tears, and sighs offered 
up by so many servants of Jesus, and by our congregations in Europe, 
for the conversion of the poor heathen here; and when I beheld our 
burying-ground, where eleven of my Brethren had their resting-place. 



( 37 ) 


as seed sown in a barren land, I burst into tears, and exclaimed—'' Surelv 
all this cannot have been done in vain l” Often did I visit this place and 
sat down and wept at their graves. 3 

My last farewell with the inhabitants, who had flocked to me from 
all the circumjacent islands, was very affecting. They wept and howled 
for grief, and begged that the Brethren might soon return to them. 
We always enjoyed their esteem and love, and they do not deserve to be 
classed with their ferocious neighbours—the Malays; being, in general 
kind and gentle in their dispositions, except when roused by jealousy 
or other provocations, when their uncontrolled passions will lead them 
into excesses, as some of the Danish soldiers experienced. We always 
found them ready to serve us. 


Letter III. 

I proceed to answer the questions you have put to me, and to give 
you some short account of the appearance of the country in the Nicobar 
Islands, and the customs of the inhabitants. 

The most of these islands are hilly, and some of the mountains of 
considerable height: but Trincuttee, Tafouin, and Car-Nicobar are flat 
and covered with forests of cocoa trees. The other islands have likewise a 
large proportion of cocoa and areca-palms, and an immense quantity of 
timber trees of various kinds, some of them of enormous size. All 
the valleys and sides of the hills to a considerable height are thickly 
covered with them, insomuch that the light of the sun has not been able 
for ages to penetrate through their foliage. They are in many places so 
closely interwoven with immense quantities of rattan and bush-rope, 
that they appear as it were spun together, and it is almost perfectly 
dark in the woods. Most of the plants and trees bear fruit, which falls 
down and rots. All these circumstances contribute to render the 
climate very unhealthy, the free current of air being wholly impeded ; 
even the natives experience their baneful effects, but, to a European 
constitution, they are of the most dangerous nature. 

I am no botanist, and can therefore give you but little information 
concerning the different species of trees, shrubs, and plants which seem 
to thrive here in such luxurious abundance, but will only add, that that 
most useful of all trees, the cocoa, is of very easy growth, and thrives best 
on the sea coast, where its roots and stem are reached by the flood-tide. 
The nut falling into the sand is soon covered by it, and springs up in great 
strength. I have planted many, and enjoyed the fruit after five years. 
When the nuts are ripe, you hang them about the house: in a short 
time they shoot out sprigs and branches, and when these are about 
a yard long you may put them into the ground, where they continue to 
vegetate rapidly. 

Another most beautiful and valuable tree is the mango (? man - 
gosteen) the fruit of which is extremely useful, both for eating and 
medicinal purposes. The eatable part is enclosed in a shell, which lies m 
a thick pulpy rind. Its taste is spicy, very grateful, betwixt sour and 



( 38 ) 


sweet/ and so wholesome, that there is hardly any fear of eating too 
plentifully of it. The shell is bitter and astringent, and the Nicobar 
doctors or sorcerers administer a decoction of it against fevers and 
agues, to which they, as well as strangers, are much subject. 

There is also a vast variety of roots, fruits, and herbs with the 
medicinal virtues of which the sorcerers are well acquainted. They are, 
no doubt, noticed by various authors, but I am not able to describe 
them. 

As to the beasts and reptiles existing in these islands, I shall only 
mention what has come under my own observation, and remains in my 
recollection. There are no wild beasts here, such as tigers and leopards, 
as on the Coast of Coromandel. Monkeys are found in the southernmost 
islands, Sambillang, Tavap, and Katchall. In some others are large herds 
of buffaloes and other cattle, originally brought thither by the Danes, 
but which have run wild in the woods since the abandonment of the 
colony. They have increased prodigiously ; and as the upper regions 
of the mountains are covered with vast quantities of fine grass, they find 
food in abundance, and grow to a large size, especially the buffaloes. 
These are always seen in herds, and I never ventured to shoot any, 
though I longed to procure some of their flesh for our use. Dogs and 
swine are found in all the islands. 

Serpents are numerous in some places, but they are far less abund¬ 
ant and venomous than on the Coast of Coromandel. The chief cause 
of this difference I am apt to ascribe to a custom prevalent among the 
natives, of setting the long grass on the mountains on fire two or three 
times a year. As these reptiles like to lay their eggs in the grass, great 
quantities of them are thus destroyed. One kind of serpent struck me 
here as a singular species; it is of a green color, has a broad head, and 
mouth like a frog, very red eyes, and its bite is so venomous, that I saw 
a woman die within half an hour after receiving the wound. She had 
climbed a high tree in search of fruit, and not observing the animal 
among the branches, was suddenly bitten in the arm. Being well aware 
of the danger, she immediately descended, but on reaching the ground 
reeled to and fro like one in a state of intoxication. The people brought 
her immediately to me; and while I was applying blisters and other 
means for extracting the poison, she died under my hands. 

1 saw but few scorpions, but among them an unusually large species, 
of a red color, said to be extremely venomous. They were lying in a 
boggy place, and I had no means of taking them. 

One of the most formidable animals with which these islands 
abound, is the crocodile or alligator. Car-Nicobar is overrun with 
them, as are all the other Nicobar Islands which have fresh-water lakes 
and streams. They are of two kinds, the black kayman and the proper 
crocodile. The latter is said never to attack live creatures but to devour 
only carrion, and is, therefore, not considered dangerous. Of the correctness 
of this opinion I had once ocular proof. I was walking at Queda along 
the coast, and looking at a number of children swimming and sporting in 
the water. On a sudden, I observed a large crocodile proceed towards 










( 39 ) 


them from a creek. Terrified at the idea of the danger they were ex¬ 
posed to, I screamed out, and made signs to some Chinese to go to their 
assistance, hut they laughed me to scorn as an ignorant stranger. I 
really afterwards saw the monster playing about among them, while the 
children diverted themselves by pretending to attack him and drive him 
away. The kayman is less in size and very fierce, seizing upon every 
creature that has life, but he cannot lift anything from the ground, as 
the lower jaw projects. 

The bats of Nicobar are of a gigantic size; I have seen some, whose 
outstretched wings measured from five to six feet across the back, the 
body being the size of a common cat. They are of two kinds, the 
head of one somewhat resembling a dog, and that of the other a cat; 
the former making a barking, and the latter a mewing noise, when on 
the wing. I never saw more than one at a time. They appear hideous, 
and in their solitary flight resemble a clock in motion, chiefly and 
awkwardly perching upon the mango ( ? mangosteen) tree, the fruit of 
which they eat, breaking down the smaller branches, till they light upon 
such as are able to bear their weight. 

Of birds I shall only notice one, called by some the Nicobar swal¬ 
low,* but I will not venture to determine its generic character. It is 
the builder of those eatable nests, which constitute one of the luxuries 

of an Indian banquet. These birds are called Hinlene by the natives, 

and build in fissures and cavities of rocks, especially in such as 

open to the south. In the latter the finest and whitest nests 

are found, and I have sometimes gathered fifty pound weight of 
them on one excursion for that purpose. They are small, and 
shaped like swallows'* nests. If they are perfeet, 72 of them go to 
a catty, or If pounds. The best sale for them is in China. After the 
most diligent investigation, I was never able fully to discover of what 
substance they are made, nor do any of the opinions of naturalists, with 
which I have become acquainted, appear satisfactory to me, neither have 
the authors alluded to ever seen the birds. They have remarkably short 
legs, and are unable to rise if they once fall or settle on the ground. 
I caught many in this state, and after examining them threw them up 
into the air, when they immediately flew away; they cannot, therefore, as 
some suppose, obtain their materials on the coast, or from rocks in the sea. 
My opinion is, that the nests are made of the gum of a peculiar tree, 
called by some the Nicobar cedar, and growing in great abundance in 
all the southern islands. Its wood is hard, black, and very heavy. 
From December to May it is covered with blossom, and bears a fruit 
somewhat resembling a cedar or pine-apple, but more like a large berry 
full of eyes or pustules, discharging a gum or resinous fluid. About 
these trees, when in bloom or bearing fruit, I have seen innumerable 
flocks of these little birds flying and fluttering like bees round a tree 
or shrub in full flower, and am of opinion that they there gather the 
materials for their nests. I relate the fact, having often watched them 
with great attention, but will not venture to affirm that I have made 


# Hirundo edulis. Linn. Syst. Nat. 





( 40 ) 


a full discovery. I observed before, that these birds dwell in cavities of 
rocks, like bees in a hive, flying* in and out, and building their nests 
close together like martins or swallows. The hen constructs a neat, 
large, well-shaped nest, calculated for laying and hatching her eggs, and 
the cock contrives to fix another, smaller, and rather more clumsy, close 
to his mate : for they are not only built for the purpose of laying eggs, but 
for resting-places, whence they may take wing. If they are robbed 
of them they immediately fall to work to build others, and being 
remarkably active, are able to finish enough in a day to support the 
weight of their bodies, though they require about three weeks to complete 
a nest. During the N. E. trade wind, they are all alive and fly 
about briskly, but as soon as the wind comes round to the S. W. 
they sit or lie in their nests in a state of stupor, and show animation 
only by a kind of tremulous motion over their whole body. I have 
sometimes taken one out of his nest in this state, and laid him on the 
palm of my hand, when I observed no sign of life about him but this 
trembling, and on returning him to his place, could hardly prevent him 
from falling on one side. If their nests were taken away at that season, 
the poor birds must inevitably perish*. 

I did not perceive any great variety of birds in these islands; but 
wild pigeons and parrots are numerous. 

As to fishes, the sea abounds with various descriptions, but my 
attention was principally directed to shell-fish, which are found in great 
abundance and beauty on most of the islands. The mission being in part 
supported by collections of these and other natural curiosities, made by 
me and other Brethren, whose time and disposition allowed of it, it 
became at one time peculiarly my business, and though I possessed no 
previous knowledge of these things, and would not venture to determine 
upon a proper classification of the various natural productions which I 
collected, both on the Coast of Coromandel and in the Nicobar Islands, 
yet constant practice and experience gave me by degrees sufficient skill 
to distinguish what was really worthy the attention of naturalists. 

I had moreover the satisfaction to perceive the blessing of God resting 
upon these exertions, by which a considerable part of the heavy expenses 
of the mission were defrayed, there having been at that time a great 
demand for productions of this kind in England, Holland, Denmark, and 
other parts of Europe. 

On my frequent excursions along the sea coast, it sometimes 
happened that I was benighted, and could not with convenience return 
to our dwelling ; but I was never at a loss for a bed. The greater part 
of the beach consists of a remarkably fine white sand, which above 
high water-mark is perfectly clean and dry. Into this I dug with ease 
a hole large enough to contain my body, forming a mound as a pillow 
for my head : I then lay down, and by collecting the sand over me, 
buried myself in it up to the neck. My faithful dog always lay across 
my body, ready to give the alarm, in case of disturbance from any quar¬ 
ter. However, I was under no apprehension from wild animals. 


# See Fontana’s account of these birds. Asiatic Researches, Vol. III., p. 292. 







( 41 ) 


Crocodiles and kaymans never haunt the open coast, but keep in creeks and 
lagoons, and there are no ravenous beasts on the island. The only 
annoyance I suffered was from the nocturnal perambulations of an immense 
variety of crabs of all sizes, the grating noise of whose armour would 
sometimes keep me awake. But they were well watched by my dog; 
and if any one ventured to approach, he was sure to be suddenly seized 
and thrown to a more respectful distance ; or if a crab of more tremen¬ 
dous appearance deterred the dog from exposing his nose to its claws, he 
would bark and frighten it away, by which, however, I was often 
more seriously alarmed than the occasion required. Many a comfortable 
night's rest have I had in these sepulchral dormitories when the nights 
were clear and dry. 

But before I dismiss this subject, I cannot conclude my letter with¬ 
out observing that, on the continent, as well as in some of the other 
East Indian islands, it would be hazardous in the extreme to expose 
one self in this manner during the night, on account of the number of 
wild beasts of various descriptions with which they abound. I feel truly 
thankful to God that He preserved me on my many journies from all 
harm; nor can I speak of having ever been in much danger. Yet one in¬ 
stance of His merciful preservation of my life I must be permitted to add. 

On one of my voyages either to or from Queda (for I have forgot¬ 
ten the precise time), a Danish ship hailed us, and approaching incau¬ 
tiously, ran foul of our stern, and broke our flag-staff. We therefore put 
into a creek, and some of our men landed near a wood to cut down a 
tree to make a new one. Hoping to be able to procure some fresh 
meat for supper, I accompanied them, armed with a double-barrelled 
gun. While they were at their work, I walked on the outside of the 
wood, eagerly looking for some game, and soon discovered among the 
high grass an object, which, by its motions, I mistook for the back of 
a hare. I took aim, and was just going to fire, when the animal rose up, 
and proved to be a tiger, of which only the top of the head had been 
visible." My arm involuntarily sunk down; I stood motionless with 
horror, expecting that the creature would immediately make a spring 
at me, and gave myself up for lost; but, by God's providence watching 
over me, the beast seemed as much alarmed as I was, and after 
staring at me for a few moments, turned slowly about, and began to 
creep away like a frightened cat, with his belly close to the ground; 
then, gradually quickening his pace, fled with precipitation into a distant 
part of the wood. It was some time before I recovered presence of 
mind sufficient to trace back my steps towards the beach, for I felt my 
very heart tremble within me. As I approached the water, there was 
a piece of jungle or low thicket before me, and I was turning to the 
left, to pass round by the side opposite the boat, thinking that I might 
yet find some game, when, seeing the men laboring hard to drag the 
tree they had felled towards the water, I altered my course, and went 
to their assistance. No sooner had I entered the boat, than I discovered 
on that side of the jungle to which I was first going, close to the beach, 
a large kayman watching our motions, whom I should certainly have 
met had I gone round by the way I intended. Thankful as I now felt 

6 


( 42 ) 


for this second preservation of my life, I could not help discharging my 
piece at the animal's head, and by the sudden plunge he made into the 
water, and the appearance of blood on the surface as he was swimming 
towards the opposite shore, it seemed that one or both of the shots 
had penetrated his eye or throat. We saw him reach the shore and 
crawl through the mud into the jungle. 

Part of the flesh of the crocodile or kayman is good and wholesome 
when well cooked. It tastes somewhat like pork, for which 1 took it, 
and ate it with much relish when I first come to Nancowry; till, on 
inquiry, finding it to be the flesh of a beast so disgusting and horrible 
in its appearance and habits, I felt a loathing, which I could never over¬ 
come ; but it is eaten by both Natives and Europeans. 


***** 

Letter Y. 

The natives of these islands are a free people, perfectly indepen¬ 
dent, but have a captain in every village. There are, indeed, several 
who claim the rank of captain, as being more sensible and clever than 
their neighbours, but only one of the number is considered as the 
Omjah harm , or the great master of the house. Yet no one is bound 
to obey him, for all of them, male and female, consider themselves 
under no control whatever; and the captain must take care that he 
does not offend by pretending to command. He is sure to be disobeyed, 
unless they are pleased to listen to friendly representation. All the 
preference given him consists in this, that when a ship arrives, he is 
allowed to go first on board, and to make the bargain if they have any¬ 
thing to barter. They are commonly good-natured men, disposed to 
make and preserve peace among the common people. In every other 
respect they live and act like the rest, get drunk, commit fornication, 
and, when there is, as they say, a necessity for it, murder; and are 
equally lazy and unclean. But they can use their tongues more glibly 
than their neighbours. 

Their houses are generally spacious, and built upon pillars six or 
more feet from the ground, resembling those of the Malays, but round, 
not square, like the latter. The inhabitants ascend by a ladder, which 
they can draw up after them. The house has only one room, but 
generally contains more than one family. Parents and children, guests 
young and old, of every description, pig here together lying naked on the 
floor, with nothing but a hetfat , the leaf of a species of palm, under 
them, in lieu of a mattrass, and very few have any covering. The furniture 
of such a house consists in a few pots made by the women, some highly 
polished cocoanut dishes to hold water, some hatchets, a sabre or two, 
a few sailors' knives, and a good many spears. A family generally 
possesses two or three palongs or boats. 



( 4.3 ) 


Their chief food is mellori bread, made of the fruit of a kind of 
palm-tree,* which is very palatable; yams, several other good roots, 
and great plenty of fruit from various trees and shrubs, all which grow in 
great abundance. Of pigs and common fowls they have a vast profusion. 
These are fed with cocoanuts, and their flesh is remarkably good. The 
sea furnishes them with various kinds of fishes, and an abundance of crabs 
and other shell-fish, so that they may easily enough serve their god. 
which is their belly. 

The clothing of the men consists of a narrow piece of cloth about 
three yards long. This they wrap twice round their waist, then 
passing it between their legs, and through the girth behind, leave 
the end of it to drag after them.f The women wear a piece of cloth, 
commonly of a blue color, about a foot wide, fastened round their 
waist, so as to hang down like an apron, reaching not quite to 
their knees. They pride themselves upon their fine skin, which indeed 
they keep very clean, and do not in general use any paint. Both sexes 
live from their infancy without any restraint, and commit every kind of 
abomination, often to the utter ruin of their health and constitutions, in 
very early life. In general they do not live regularly in the married 
state, till they are past their prime; though I have known some who 
had married early remain faithful to each other, and keep their families 
in good order. 

As savages, they may be justly esteemed a good-natured race, being 
always ready to do a kind action to their friends, of which I will 
relate one instance. We used to buy of them what we wanted, and 
pay with tobacco, the current medium. Even when they had nothing 
to sell, they would come and fetch their portion of tobacco, which we 
never refused them, as long as we had any, till, by the non-arrival of 
the ship, we were left entirely without it. We therefore told the captain 
of the village that, as we had no more tobacco, the people need not 
bring us any more provisions, for we had nothing to give in exchange. 
The captain did as we desired, yet, on the very next day, we were 
supplied more plentifully then ever with the things we wanted. They 
would not even wait for pay, but hung’ up their fruit and meat about 
the house and went away. We called after them and told them how 
we were situated. Their answer was, “When you had plenty of 
tobacco, you gave us as much as you could spare ; now, though you 
have got no more of it, we have provisions enough, and you shall 
have as much as you want as long as we have any, till you get more 
tobacco.” This promise they most faithfully performed. Such kindness 
we did not expect from such people; but they always showed great 
affection for us. 

As to religion, they are in a state of deplorable ignorance. Their 
notions of a Divine Being seem most oddly perplexed, insomuch that it 
is difficult to make out anything among them like a fixed opinion of 
His existence and attributes, nor do they seem to possess any curiosity 
to know more about Him. 

* A species of Pandanus. See Asiatic Researches, Vol. Ill, p. 21)2. 

t Hence the fabulous stories of meii with tails, related by Kioping, a Swedish 
navigator. 




( 44 ) 


But they are not professed idolaters, like most of the other Orien¬ 
tal nations. They have not even a word in their language to express 
their idea of God. They use the word Knallen when they speak of Him, 
but it only signifies, <( above, on high” : for instance, they say Knallen 
maade , “ on the hill” ; Knallen ttniga, “ on the top of the tree” ; Knallen 
gamalee , “ on the surface of the sea,” speaking of something swimming. 
However, they believe that this ee unknown God” is good, and will not 
hurt them; but wherein His goodness consists, they neither have, nor 
seem to wish to have, any understanding, nor ever trouble themselves 
about Him. Therefore, when we endeavoured, as well as we could, to 
explain to them the goodness of God, in pitying the lost condition of man, 
and providing the means of our redemption, and spoke to them of Jesus 
Christ our Saviour, and of what He has done and suffered to purchase 
for us salvation, they heard us indeed with astonishment and silent 
submission; but that they should be at all interested in it, and become 
virtuous and happy if they believed and turned to Him, and after this 
life enter into everlasting bliss by His merits, was more than they could 
possibly comprehend. When we told them that we were come hither 
for no other purpose, but to make them acquainted with their Creator 
and Redeemer, and to bring them the glad tidings of salvation; and 
begged them only to take it to heart, and reflect upon what we thus 
made known to them in the name of God, they laughed at us. They 
observed, that they could not believe that the sufferings of one man 
could atone for the sins of another; and that, therefore, if they were 
wicked, what we told them of a crucified Saviour would not help them; 
but they insisted that they were good by nature, and never did any 
thing wrong, as we well knew. When we replied, that we knew that 
they had but lately murdered some people, and afterwards abused the 
dead bodies, each thrusting his spear into them, mutilating them in the 
most wanton manner, and at last cutting them to pieces, and asked them 
whether this was a proof of their natural goodness, their answer was— 
“ That you do not understand; those were people not fit to live, they 
were gomoy } 'cannibals'! ” 


Letter YI. 

The inhabitants of tho Nicobar Islands believe that all dangerous 
diseases proceed from the devil, who is nevertheless under the control 
of their sorcerers or Paters * If, therefore, these men cannot cure a 
disorder by their tricks and enchantments, by which they pretend to 
catch the devil and drive him off the place, they are sure that he has 
entered into some man or woman sitting, in his or her house, and by witch¬ 
craft, sucking all the power of healing out of the patient's body. The 
sorcerer then proceeds to discover the witch, and finds no difficulty in 
fixing upon some one he hates. The word of such a wise man is of 
course, taken by all for the voice of truth, and the poor person accused 
is murdered without further inquiry. Murders of this kind occurred but 
seldom in our neighbourhood, but were said to be more frequent in 


* An appellation borrowed from the Portuguese Missionaries. 







( 45 ) 


some of the other islands. We told them that the devil everywhere 
proved himself the father of lies, and a murderer from the beginning; 
and, till they turned to the true God, they were satan's slaves,^and his 
works they must do. They seem indeed to be continually' engaged 
with him whenever they profess to perform any religious rite. They 
even ascribe the creation of the world to the Eewee or wicked agent. 
If they do anything wrong, or commit any atrocious crime, and are 
reproved for it, they immediately answer—“ It was not me, it was the 
devil that did it. ” If you convince them that they did it themselves 
and with their own hands, their usual phrase is, f ‘ the Eewee did not 
make me perfect, or better”; and therefore they cannot help some¬ 
times doing what is wrong. They speak of a great many sorts of devils, 
but all malicious and disposed to hurt them, if they had not such great 
and powerful paters among them, who had a superior power, and could 
catch and bring them into subjection. It is not difficult for the 
sorcerers thus to impose upon the poor ignorant people, for they really 
do possess superior cunning and astonishing dexterity, being the most 
expert jugglers on earth. Every one who has visited the East Indies, 
well knows with what unaccountable exhibitions and sleight-of-hand 
tricks the jugglers endeavour to amuse the people; but in the Nico¬ 
bar Islands, these arts being applied to what they consider as religious 
exercises, the deception is so great, that I have myself often stood 
astonished, being unable to account for what I saw. 

I went once purposely into a house where a sorcerer was about to 
perform as doctor, and to cure a woman who lay very ill. I was 
determined to watch him as narrowly as possible. Both doctor and 
patient were stark naked. After a series of most horrible grimaces, 
the sorcerer produced a very large yam, which he held up, pretending 
that he had limpt it ( for thus they call this species of legerdemain) 
out of the body of the woman, and that it had been, by witchcraft, the 
cause of her disorder. When he entered, I particularly noticed that he 
had nothing in his hands or about him, nor did there appear any pos¬ 
sibility of a substance of that size being concealed in the empty room. 
At another time I saw a sorcerer, under similar circumstances, on a 
sudden exhibit three large stones, which he pretended to have extracted 
from the patient's body. To the first of these patients he afterwards 
administered a decoction of herbs, and she recovered. The cure was 
probably owing to his skill in preparing the potion, but was of course 
ascribed to the incantation and the seizure of the enchanted yam. 

After I had resided five years in the island, my legs began to 
inflame and swell to a prodigious size * A suppuration took place, and, 
till the discharge commenced, I suffered excruciating pain. During 
this dreadful illness several paters called upon me, and in the most 
friendly manner expressed their pity, offering me their assistance, and 
assuring me that if I would submit to their mode of cure, I should 
soon recover. At last I thought that, as their skill in various medici¬ 
nal arts, and their knowledge of drugs was very great, I would suffer 


* A disorder known in India by the name of the Cochin leg. Asiatic Researches 

Vol. III. 




( 46 ) 


one of them, called Philip, who always attended us as language-master, 
to try what he could do for me, on condition that he should omit all 
superstitious ceremonies. He agreed, and immediately putting on the 
most solemn and significant expression of face, worthy of so eminent a 
practitioner, began to paw me all over, varying his features with every 
motion of his hand, so that, notwithstanding the pain I felt, I could 
not refrain from bursting into laughter at his grimaces, which he could 
not possibly avoid, though bargained to be omitted. At length, the 
preamble concluded, he began his work, first by stroking my legs from 
the knees downwards with the palm of his hand, muttering all the 
while, and then by applying his mouth and sucking the parts affected, 
accompanying the operation by a most strange kind of purring or grunt¬ 
ing. Thus far his practice seemed to do good, and I felt relief, when, 
rising on a sudden, he produced a potsherd, which he exhibited to the 
company as having limpt it out of my leg, saying that he should soon 
bring forth more pieces. I cried out—“ Stop there you deceiver, do 
you pretend that my body is full of potsherds; that broken piece in 
your hand you drew out of your own mouth. Open it directly, and 
let us have the rest.” He stood confounded, and soon sneaked ont of 
the house, laughed at by all his former admirers, nor did he call upon 
me again till about a fortnight after. 


As it sometimes happened, that when the skill of the sorcerers 
proved ineffective, a Missionary had administered some simple medicine, 
which, by God's blessing, had the desired effect, they looked upon us 
as the first of paters, though our medicines consisted in nothing but a 
little magnesia, spirits of nitre, and a few simples. But what astonished 
them most was this, that we could inform them beforehand, by means 
of a perpetual almanac, that an eclipse of the sun or moon would take 
place on the very day when it happened. Their notion of the cause of 
an eclipse is the most preposterous and ridiculous that ever entered into 
the head even of an heathen. They say that the devil is come to 
devour the sun or moon, and falls to work to gnaw off the edge; that, 
therefore, it is necessary he should be driven away; consequently all 
the sorcerers or paters assemble, and amidst singular and hideous grimaces, 
throw up their spears towards the luminary attacked, all the 
villagers sounding their gong-gongs with the greatest violence, to frighten 
away the voracious invader. After some time their efforts succeed, 
and he must betake himself to flight without effecting his purpose. 
Though we endeavoured in every possible way to explain to them how 
an eclipse was occasioned, and they seemed in some degree to comprehend 
it, they only declared us to be the greatest paters that had ever been on 
the island, but ascribed the deliverance of the sun or moon from the 
fangs of the devil, solely to the skill and power of their sorcerers, and 
all we could say to prevail upon them for once to be quiet, and observe 
how the luminary would regain its former appearance, by those means 
which God, the Creator Himself, had ordained, was in vain. 

The expulsion of the devil from a sick person or family is a 
ceremony as singular as it is silly, but as 1 have frequently been 
a spectator of this farcical performance, a description of it may not 
be uninteresting to you. I have before observed that, if their medicines 



( 47 ) 


(many of which are very powerful), or, as they will have it, their incan¬ 
tations are of no avail, they then ascribe the illness to the immediate 
agency of the infernal spirit, who must be subdued and caught. The 
pater, previous to the commencement of his operations, summons all the 
young men in the village to assist him in constructing a small raft of 
light wood. Three poles are fixed upon it to represent masts, and some 
bamboos laid across like oars. The masts are hung with young white 
cocoa leaves. This toy, which they call Hanmai , they place between 
two palongs, each rowed hy a crew of stout young men, with a piece 
of rattan as a towing-rope fixed to it. Every rower carries five spears 
besides his oar. They now wait with great eagerness for the pater's 
further orders. He has meanwhile begun his work, which he finds 
either hard or easy of performance, according as the patients are rich or 
poor. He is stark naked, and painted all over with various colors, 
making as terrific an appearance as possible to frighten the devil, and 
indeed it is enough to terrify any man to see him brandishing a short 
clumsy bludgeon which he holds up with both hands, and dancing in 
the most furious manner. He accompanies his gesticulations with the 
most horrible yells and bowlings, and at length is fortunate enough to 
seize the enemy by a leg, an arm, or even by the hair of his head, which 
the poor deluded people believe, without seeing what -he grasps. Now 
the whole company rush towards the water, and the pater deposits the 
supposed devil on board the raft, on which the palongs row off with the 
greatest possible expedition, dragging the captive out to sea to a 
considerable distance, when, having turned him and his vehicle adrift, 
they row back with the utmost speed to shore. For two days the enemy 
may survive this rough usage, and again land in safety, if driven on 
shore by the tide or wind, but on the third day he must die. Should 
he land at another village, he then does the mischief there, which he 
was prevented doing at the former place. 


The worst consequence of such an unfortunate conclusion of the 
business is, that the greatest enmity immediately takes place between 
the two villages, and nothing can atone for the aggression but a formal 
combat.* The village invaded sends a challenge to the former, and a 
day is fixed for the battle. The captains of all the neighbouring villages 
having met to a consultation, the combatants are chosen, and as there 
are others who wish to take advantage of so just a mode of settling 
their disputes, they are summoned to appear. One has stolen some¬ 
thing, another run of with his neighbour's wife, and the like. All these 
peopte now meet, both the injured and the guilty, and each being pro¬ 
vided with a sufficient supply of long sticks of the mango (? mangosteen) 
tree, they proceed to the place of rendezvous. There the captains examine 
the sticks, and those that are too thick are thrown away. This being done, 
two of the combatants step out, and lay about each other's back and 
head, till one of the party is obliged to give up. A second couple follow, 
and after them others, till in a proper space of time the whole company 
has °-ot a good drubbing. The most innocent among them are generally 
the worst handled; however, the business is now decided, and all are 
convinced that whoever was first obliged to give up, was the offender. 


Peace is thus restored, both parties being perfectly satisfied with so wise 
and just a decision, nor could anything we said convince them of the 
folly and wickedness of such superstitious and injurious practices. 


Letter VII. 

You wish to know what were the chief external causes of the failure 
of our exertions; and ask, whether our residence on the island had been 
with the consent of the natives, or whether they considered us as in¬ 
truders. The latter circumstance was guarded against by a regular treaty 
made in December 1774, between the Brethren and the captain and 
inhabitants of the village Malacca, near to which they had made their 
settlement. They then obtained legal possession of that piece of land 
which they occupied. Such presents as the natives required were deli¬ 
vered, and the terms contained in the treaty fully explained to them; 
after which the principal men signed their names, by drawing a pen with 
iuk over the letters as written with a pencil. The neighbouring village 
likewise received a proper consideration for a treaty of friendship with 
them, and now the Brethren were looked upon no longer as Kaleng y 
“ foreigners,” but as Baju Tripjet, “ natives at Tripjet.” Objections 
were, however, started when they began to build their dwelling-house, 
and some wicked people endeavoured to raise suspicions in the 
minds of their countrymen as to the intentions of the Missionaries. 
The latter were, for some time after, in danger of their lives, from the 
fickle disposition of their new friends; but the Lord preserved them. 
Their upright intentions were at length acknowledged, and ever after all 
due respect and confidence shown to them by all the inhabitants of 
Nancowry. 

The failure of the mission was owing' to other causes, of which I will 
mention some according to my view of the subject. First , the extreme 
difficulty of learning the language. We had indeed an opportunity of 
speaking with some of the natives in a kind of bastard Portuguese, 
but it would by no means answer the purpose of preaching the gospel 
to them in general. It was their own native language of which we 
wished to acquire a sufficient knowledge, thereby to gain access to the 
whole nation. To this end, a pater called Philip was engaged as 
language-master. A few of the Missionaries made some proficiency, 
notwithstanding the peculiar difficulties attending the study; for im¬ 
pediments arise even from the habits of the natives. Their language 
is in itself very poor in words and expressions, and they are of so indolent 
a turn, that even talking seems a trouble to them ; and as long as they 
can express by signs what they mean, they are unwilling to open their 
mouths. If a stranger comes into their houses, they sit still and look at 
him, or, perhaps, pointing to some food, motion to him to sit down and 
eat. There he may sit for hours without hearing a syllable spoken, 
unless he can himself begin, when they will answer with friendliness! 
Again, both men and women have always a huge quid of the betel or 
areca-nut in their mouths, which renders their speech so indistinct, that 



( 49 ) 


it you ask them the names of the various objects before them, you can 
hardly distinguish between the sputtering sounds they make/ Often 
weie we obliged to tell pater Philip to take his quid out of his mouth 
that we might hear what he attempted to articulate. As to books and 
vocabularies we found none, nor could we make any while our know¬ 
ledge of the language was so imperfect. 

Secondly, the unhealthiness of the climate, by which most of 
the Missionaries were carried off before they could learn the lan¬ 
guage, or just when they had got so far that they were able to speak 
to the natives. During the comparatively short period of the existence 
of the mission, eleven worthy Missionaries found their graves in 
Nancowry, and thirteen more, shortly after their return to Tranque- 
bar, in consequence of the malignant fevers and obstructions in the 
liver contracted in the island. These dreadful disorders, and the season¬ 
ing fevers which every new comer must suffer, are all accompanied with 
such pain in the head, dejection of spirits, and constant sickness, that 
the senses are in a degree stupified, and learning rendered doublv 
difficult. The mind being likewise filled with desponding views of 
the possibility of relief and of future usefulness, the effect is very 
unfavorable to that persevering diligence with which such a barbar¬ 
ous language must be studied; and death snatching away so soon 
those who had made some small progress, their successors must begin 
the uphill work again and again, and the prospect of obtaining the 
aim of the mission is put off from one period to another. 

Thirdly , our mode of life, and too great exertion in clearning 
and planting, and other laborious work which necessity obliged us to 
undertake, was likewise a principal cause of the prevalence of various 
disorders and complaints of the liver, the region of the stomach 
swelling and becoming quite hard below the ribs. All who were thus 
•affected, died either in the island, or soon after their return to Trail - 
quebar. I was not seized in this manner; but, besides other illnesses, 
got a quartan-ague, of which I have not lost the symptoms to this 
day. When I mentioned it in a letter to Dr. Betschler at Tranquebar 
he wrote in answer,—“Ah! my friend, if you have got the Nicobar- 
ague, it will keep you company all your life, if you live to be an 
hundred years old.” Thus far his words have proved true, and to 
this present time, after thirty years have elapsed, I perceive the 
remaining symptoms regularly returning every fourth night. While 
I was at Nancowry they were very violent, and weakened me so 
much, that I often thought my life in danger. After my return to 
Europe they abated considerably; but on being appointed to the 
service of the missions in the Danish West India islands, the heat of 
the climate caused them to increase in strength, though by degrees 
they again became bearable, and the fever almost imperceptible. 
At present the symptoms are various, sometimes a great degree of 
thirst, sleepless nights, and uneasy sensations; at other times heavy 
yet restless sleep, with dreams approaching to delirium ; but whatever 
they are, never failing to recur every fourth night regularly. I will 

7 



( 50 ) 


not venture to say whether, if I had stayed in Europe, the use of proper 
means, under skilful treatment, might not have entirely removed 
the complaint, but the fact, as it exists at present, has verified 
Dr. Betschler’s prediction. 

To return to the former subject, I must add that not one of us 
ever learnt the Nicobar language so perfectly as to be able clearly 
to explain the will of God concerning our salvation to the natives. 
But I am of opinion that they are not the most hopeless subjects, 
and think that the gospel might be preached to them with success, 
if the above-mentioned obstacles were removed. 


Letter VIII. 

The birds’ nests, which I have described in a former letter, 
brought a great number, both of Malays and Chinese, to our coasts in 
quest of them. These people always created much confusion and 
quarrelling among our otherwise-peaceable islanders by their knavery 
and frequent assassinations ; and also gave the Missionaries a great 
deal of trouble. In general fifteen or sixteen, and in one year 
nineteen large prows full of these vagabonds came to Nancowry. 
After the officers and soldiers who had accompanied the Missionaries 
to this island were all dead, and it was known that the latter would not 
quit their post, the Government at Tranquebar required that always 
one of them should be appointed Danish Royal Resident, and hold as 
it were the presidency of the islands. The patent was always signed 
by the King. Brother Voelcker was the first who filled that station, 
and was succeeded by Brother Armedinger. He was followed by 
Brother Blaschke, and after his return to Tranquebar I was appointed. 
As I thought it was left to my own option whether I would accept 
of it or not, I declined it in a letter to the Governor of Tranquebar, 
conceiving it to be inconsistent with the duties of a Missionary. ' 
However, I was obliged at length to yield, and became Resident. I 
was succeeded by Brother J. Heinrich, and Brother Soerensen was 
the last. 

I will add an instance or two to show how this office proved fre¬ 
quently a source of much vexation to us. The Danes, when they 
formed their first settlement in Car-Nicobar, an island 75 English 
miles in circumference, to which they gave the name of New Den¬ 
mark, had conveyed a considerable number of cannon thither; but 
after the death of all the soldiers, the carriages rotted, and I saw seven¬ 
teen of these guns lying on the ground. "By one or more at a time 
the Malays kept stealing them away. It happened, however, that a 
Nacata, or general of the King of Queda as he styled himself, arrived at 
Nancowry with a large prow, and being informed by the natives that 
he had no less than five of them on board, I thought it my duty, 



( 51 ) 


as Resident, to protest against this theft, and spoke to him about it. 
He flew into a great rage, and began to use threatening language, 
pleading the orders of his king. I answered that his king very well 
knew that, as he had laid nothing down there, he had no right to take 
anything up; and that if he persisted, I should give notice to the 
King of Denmark. I then left him, but heard that he afterwards 
threatened soon to prevent my reporting his conduct, adding, that 
when I was dead I should be quiet enough. The natives also assured 
me that it was his intention to kill me, but that they would stay with 
me for my defence. I replied that though I thanked them for their 
kindness, yet they, as well as we, were much too weak to withstand 
the diabolical influence which actuated these murderous people; every 
inclination to commit that and other crimes being of the devil; but 
that our hope and trust was in God. They heard us with attention 
and surprise, and stayed with us till late at night, when we desired 
them to return home, but could hardly prevail upon them to 
leave us. 

As soon as they were gone, having performed our usual evening 
devotions, we were preparing to retire to bed, when we heard a noise 
without, and immediately after a violent knocking at the door. On 
opening it, I was not a little alarmed to see a great number of Malays 
surrounding the entrance. I cried silently to the Lord to protect 
us against their evil designs ; but though my fears were great, I assumed 
an authoritative air, keeping my station in the door-way, as if 
determined not to let them enter. The foremost, however, pushed in, 
and now the Nacata himself came up. He treacherously held out 
his hand; but on my offering him mine, he grasped it firmly, and 
dragged me with him into the bouse. The Malays immediately filled 
all the chairs, and I stood before them. I had no other hope but in 
the mercy of God, to whom I sighed for help in this trying moment. 
Meanwhile, more of them crowded into the room, and sat down 
on the floor, closely watching me, armed with their creeses or 
daggers. Though I preserved a firm and undaunted appearance, I 
cannot describe my feelings, for I expected to be immediately sacrificed 
to their fury. The Nacata addressed me by saying that he was come 
hither to ask whose property the cannon were to be, his or mine ? I 
answered, “that he came to the wrong person to make that inquiry ; 
for I was only a servant of the King of Denmark, as he, according 
to his own account, was only the servant of the King of Queda. 
Neither of us, therefore, could determine who was to have the cannon. 
Our respective masters, and they only were able to settle that point. 
He had told me that he had received orders to fetch them, and I could 
assure him that I had orders to protest against it: we both, therefore, 
had only done our duty. All now depended upon this point, whether 
my king or his king had any right to give orders in these islands, 
and to claim the property in question/ - * At this answer he became 
quite furious, and began to talk about the ease with which the Malays 
might murder us all. Some of them even drew their daggeis, and 
showed how they were tipped with poison. They looked indeed more 
like a host of devils than a company of human creatures. On a 


( 52 ) 


sudden they all jumped up and seemed to rush upon me. 1 com¬ 
mended my soul to the Lord, and called upon Him for deliverance, 
awaiting the issue in silence, when, to my surprise, they quitted the 
room one by one, and left me standing alone in astonishment at 
their conduct. I shall never forget the dreadful scene, and think of 
it at this moment with shuddering. As soon as they were all gone, and 
1 found myself in safety, I fell on my knees, and with tears, gave 
thanks to God, who had heard my prayers, and rescued me out of 
the hands of the savages. My Brethren, who had very properly 
retired into the wood when the Malays first burst into the house, 
now returned, and we wept for joy to see each other alive. 

Having somewhat recovered from our fright, I went to the village, 
and told our old Nicobar captain, Jan, what had happened, upon which 
he sent messages to all the neighbouring villages, when, in a short time, 
great numbers arrived well armed, and watched at the landing-place 
all night. Had the Malays offered to return to shore, not one of them 
would have escaped with his life. 

In the morning, the Nacata's prow with two others were seen 
at anchor under Trincuttee, many miles from hence. The people there 
told us afterwards that the Nacata had said that the Danish Resident 
at Nancowry was a very great sorcerer, for he had tied their hands, 
aud they could do nothing with him. It was not I who tied their 
hands, but God, who heard the cries of a poor, defenceless, and 
trembling child, trusting alone to His mercy and power. 

I might add many other instances of the trouble and mischief 
occasioned by the visits of these robbers, and which it was my business 
to prevent if possible; but will close my account with relating only 
one more, to show in what manner they treat even their own country¬ 
men, and also, how willing our neighbours were to defend our 
rights. 

Having this year obtained, by foul or fair means, a pretty con¬ 
siderable booty, no less than nineteen prows full of Malays came the 
ensuing season into our roads for birds' nests. I had, however, got 
the start of them. As soon as the N. E. wind commenced, I 
went to the southern islands, where I stayed a month, and not onlv 
collected a vast quantity of nests, but purchased all those which the 
natives brought for sale. The Malays, therefore, were disappointed, 
and got but few. We expected that they would have been thereby 
discouraged, and discontinued their visits. But we were mistaken. 
While I was at Manjoul, a small island E. of the channel of St. 
George, a prow with about sixty Malays arrived there, commanded by 
a Nacata, who called himself Sayet Ismael, a priest of the King of 
Queda. He was the most civil and well-behaved Malay I ever con¬ 
versed with. I advised him therefore to stay where he was, to make a 
regular agreement with the natives about the price of the birds' nests, 
pay faithfully, and keep good order among his men, so as to prevent 


( 5:5 ) 


all cause of complaint, and assured liim that thus he would get a 
good cargo. He took my advice, and procured a considerable quantity 
of nests, while those who followed him got none. 

Among the latter was a man who styled himself a Prince of 
Queda, and had two Nacatas, some women, and a numerous crew on 
board his large prow. He committed everywhere the grossest acts of 
barbarity, and in Car-Nicobar murdered two persons, of which I was 
soon informed. Shortly after he came into our neighbourhood, and 
anchored under Tricut, where he seized upon Sayet Ismael's prow. 
The latter having sent his palong to Nancowry, with eight sacks 
of rice, two of nests, and other goods, soon followed, claiming 
our protection. Thus, though we ourselves were in a defenceless 
state, the oppressed came and sought help from us. We suffered the 
priest to occupy one of our negroe-houses, where he remained 
very quiet. Meanwhile the Prince heard that we had obtained 
a large quantity of nests, and thought it would be no difficult 
matter to plunder us likewise. For this purpose he arrived with 
two large prows filled with some of the most ferocious of the Malay 
race. They entered, occupied our house without any ceremony, and 
seemed to be a determined set of banditti. I was alone in the midst 
of them, and cried to the Lord to take me under his protection. 
While I was walking to and fro across the room, the Prince inquired 
whether I had any birds' nests. I replied in the affirmative; upon 
which he pretended that he was come to purchase them of me, and 
wished to see them. As I happened, during this conversation, to step 
towards the door, one of our Caffre servants, who stood near it, 
thought I had made a sign to him to call the natives to my assistance, 
though, in fact, I was so much agitated, that I had not even observed 
him. He ran immediately into the village Malacca, and called the 
people together. Meanwhile I spoke in a decisive tone with the 
Prince, forgot all his grand titles, and assured him that he should not 
get a single nest from me, sharply reproving him for having murdered 
two men at Car-Nicobar, who w r ere under the protection of my 
sovereign. He flew into a passion, saying that he would soon show me 
that he had it in his power to sieze all my birds' nests, and as to the 
two men who had been stabbed at Car-Nicobar, he was not bound to 
answer for that deed to me. 

He had scarcely finished this insulting speech, when a party of 
natives unexpectedly leaped in at the windows, with drawn sabres in 
their hands. The Malays, terrified beyond measure, asked what all 
this meant. I replied— cf They come to prevent your committing 
more murders." In a short time the house was surrounded by the 
natives, both men and women being armed with sabres, spears, and 
bludgeons, their number continually increasing. The Prince and his 
men now began to beg that we would take them under our protection. 
At first I gave them no answer, but continued reproving them for 
their base and treacherous practices, among which I particularly 
noticed their plundering people of their own nation. I asked —“ Who 
therefore can trust to your word ? You deserve punishment at the 


( 54 ) 


hands of those you have so often provoked by your injustice, and if 
I were now only to lift up my baud, not a man of you would escape.” 
Being convinced that they were in my power, they began to entreat me 
to interfere in their behalf, and the Prince offered to restore all he had 
taken. “ How can you,” said I, restore the lives of those you have 
murdered? However, you shall for once keep your word, and res¬ 
tore the prow you took from Sayet Ismael, with its whole lading.” 
This he readily agreed to, and having called Sayet Ismael, I made 
the Prince repeat his promise, and asked Sayet whether he could 
trust him, which, after some words had passed between them in their 
own language, he assured me he could, and they shook hands in 
token of sincerity. I now informed the Prince that his men might 
go unmolested to their palongs, but that he himself should stay with 
me till Sayet IsmaeFs prow had been sent hither and delivered 
up to him. He was exceedingly terrified at this sentence, and said 
that, unless he was permitted to accompany his people, the natives 
would certainly kill him. At length Sayet Ismael himself warmly 
interceding for him, I consented that they should go away together, 
and went out to pacify the natives. It was with some difficulty that 
I succeeded in appeasing their indignation against these robbers, 
whom they now had in their power, but when I told them that I 
should look upon their compliance as a proof of their regard for me 
and my Brethren, they were satisfied, and made, of their own accord, 
a passage through their ranks for the Malays. Their appearance was 
indeed formidable as they stood on each side armed with their spears 
and bludgeons. The Malays, however, were still afraid to leave the 
house, till, after much entreaty, I myself agreed to accompany them 
to their palongs. The Prince seized my hand, and would not let me 
go till he had got into the boat. 

I thought it my duty to avail myself of this opportunity to im¬ 
press these ferocious invaders of our islands with some sense of the 
danger they were in, and to teach them that they might not always be 
permitted to commit their depredations with impunity. For a time 
I believe it had a good effect; but I confess that I felt not a little 
intimidated by this unpleasant visit, and much regretted the necessity 
of holding the office, and doing the duty of a Resident or Agent of 
Government. God was my refuge, and had He not granted me pre¬ 
sence of mind, sufficient to avoid all show of the fear I felt, we should 
probably have fallen a sacrifice to the revengeful and murderous spirit 
of these barbarians. 

Sayet Ismael returned to us that very night with his recovered 
prow and cargo, thankful for the justice which he had obtaiued, and as 
he offered us his services, we entrusted him with a parcel of letters to 
our Brethren in Europe, which we found he had regularly forwarded 
as they all came safe to hand. 

The Prince had talked of nothing on the way to Tricut, but of the 
wonderful power of the Missionaries, and declared that he would 
certainly never again set foot on Nancowry. 


l 55 ) 


From the “ Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses,” Toulouse; 1810. 

Extract from a letter from Fere Faure, S. J., to Fere de la Boesse , >S. 

dated Ylth January 1711. Vol. XI. 

Ces lies sont situees h Fentree du grand golfe de Bengale, vis-h-vis 
Fune des emboucliures du detroit de Malaea. Elies s'etendent depuis le 
septieme degre jusques vers le dixieme de latitude Nord. La prineipale 
de ces lies s'appelle Nicobar, et elle donne son nom a toutes les autres, 
quoiqiFelles aient outre cela un nom. particulier. Comme c^est a celle- 
\h que vont mouiller les vaisseaux des Indes, et que les peuples qui 
Fhabitent paraissent plus traitables que ceux des autres lies, nous avons 
jug*e a propos d'y faire notre premier etablissement. 

Yoici ce que j^ai appris de ces lies sur le rapport de coux qui en 
ont quelque connaissance. 

Lhle de Nicobar iFest eloignee d ’Achen que de trentes lieues. Son 
terroir, de me me que celui des autres lies, est assez fertile en di verses 
sortes de fruits : mais il iFy croit ni ble, ni riz, ni aucune autre sorte 
de grain; on snourrit de fruits, de poissons et de racines fort 
insipides appelees iff names, II y a pourtant des poules et des cochons 
en assez grande quantite: mais ces Insulaires iPen mangent point; ils 
les echangent, lorsque quelque vaisseau passe, pour du fer, du tabac 
et de la toile : ils vendent de la meme maniere leurs fruits, et leurs 
perroquets qui sont fort estimes dans FInde, parce qu'il lPy en a point 
qui parlent si distinctement. On y trouve encore de Fambre et de 
Detain, et c^est a quoi se terminent toutes leurs richesses. 

Tout ce que j'ai pu connaitre de la Religion des Nicobarins, c'est 
quhls adorent la Lune, et quhls craignent fort les Demons dont ils ont 
quelque grossiere idee. Ils ne sont point divises en diverses castes ou 
tribus, comme les peuples de Malabar et de Coromandel. Les Maho¬ 
metans meme n^ont pu y penetrer, bien quhls se soient repandus si 
aisement dans toute FInde, au grand prejudice du Christianisme. On 
n^y voifc aucun monument public qui soit consacre a un culte religieux. 
II v a seulement quelques grottes creusees dans les rochers, pour lesquelles 
ces insulaires ont une grande veneration, et ou ils lFosent entrer de 
peur d^y etre maltraites du Demon. 

Je ne vous dirai rien des mceurs, de la police et du gouvernement 
des Nicobarins, car personne n^a penetre assez avant dans leur ]>ays, 
pour en etre bien instruit. Si je suis assez heureux pour en etre ecoute, 
et pour leur faire gouter les verites que je vais leur precher, j'aurai soin 
de vous informer exactement de tout ce qui les regarde. 

Lorsque j ^arrival a Pondichery, on pensait serieusement aux moyens 
de travailler a la conversion de ces insulaires. Mais comme on ne voulait 
pas oter h la Mission de Cam ale, ni h celle de Madure, les ouvriers qui 
y etaient necessaires, on attendait de nouveaux secours pour cette entre- 
prise. L\yant su, je nPoffris aux Superieurs, je les pressai meme, et ils 


( 56 ) 


se rendirent h mes instances. J'eus done le bonheur d'etre choisi avec lc 
Pere Bonnet pour mettre la premiere main a une si bonne oeuvre., des 
qu'il se trouverait une occasion de passer a ces lies. 

Nous attendions avec impatience que quelques vaisseaux fissent 
voile vers le detroit de Malaca, lorsque tout-a-coup on en vit mouiller 
quatre, dont deux etaient destines a aller croiser dans ce detroit. Cette 
petite escadre etait commandee par M. Raoul, a qui nous times Pouverture 
de notre dessein. II l'approuva, et nous accorda avec bonte la grace 
que nous lui demandions, de nous recevoir dans quelqu' un de ses vais¬ 
seaux. J'entrai en qualite d'Aumonier dans le Lys-Brillac, que com- 
mandait M. du Demaine. M. Raoul voulut avoir le Pere Bonnet avec 
lui dans le Maurepas . 

Apres deux mois employes en diverses courses qiPil est inutile de 
rapporter, nous mimes a la voile pour repasser devant Malaca, et doubler 
un cap appele Rachado. Nous serons bientot h la vue des lies Nicobar , 
ou j'espere, avec la grace du Seigneur, nPemployer tout entier h la 
conversion de ce pauvre peuple qui nPest echu en partage. Dieu, qui 
a toujours use envers moi de ses grandes misericordes, nPinspire une 
pleine confiance en sa toute-puissante protection; et e'est ce qui me fait 
envisager sans crainte les perils que nous allons courir au milieu d'une 
nation barbare. 

Que je serais heureux, mon Reverend Pere, si, quand vous recevrez 
ma lettre, j'avais deja ete digne de souffrir quelque chose pour Jesus- 
Christ! mais vous me connaissez trop bien, pour D'etre pas persuade 
qu'une pareille grace est reservee a d'autres qui la meritent mieux que moi. 
Quoi qu'il en soit de mon sort a venir, vous apprendrez Pan prochain 
de mes nouvelles, ou par mes propres lettres, si je suis encore en vie, ou 
par les lettres de nos Peres de Pondichery, si je ne suis plus en etat de 
vous ecrire moi-meme. Je suis avec respect dans Punion de vos saints 
sacrifices, etc. 


Yoici ce qiPon a appris depuis le debarquement des deux Mission- 
naires dans les lies de Nicobar . Au retour du detroit de Malaca , les 
deux vaisseaux passerent par sept degres de la ligne, a la vue d'une 
des lies que M. du Demaine alia ranger. II fit aussitot equiper sa 
ehaloupe pour mettre les Peres a bord de cette lie. La separation 
ne se put faire sans beaucoup de larmes. Tout Pequipage fut 
attendri de voir avec quelle joie les deux Missionnaires allaient se 
livrer k la merci d'un peuple feroce, dans des lies si peu pratiquees et 
tout-h-fait depourvues des choses necessaires a la vie. Le vaisseau 
mit en panne, et tout le monde conduisit des yeux la ehaloupe qui 
cotoya Pile fort long-temps, sans pouvoir trouver d'endroit ou debarquer, 
en sorte meme que Pofficier qui commandait la ehaloupe songeait deja 
a retourner a son vaisseau. Les Peres le conjurerent avec instance de ne 
point perdre courage; ils cotoyerent done Pile encore quelque temps; 
et enfin on trouva un lieu assez commode, ou Pon fit debarquer les 
Missionnaires, avec un petit coffre ou etait leur chapelle, et un sac 
de riz dont M. du Demaine leur avait presente. Aussitot qu'ils se 
virent dans Pile, ils se mirent a genoux, firent leur priere et baiserent 


( 57 ) 


la terre avec respect, pour en prendre possession au nom de Jesus-Christ. 
Ensuite, apres avoir cache leur chapelle et leur sac de riz, ils s'enforce- 
rent dans les bois, pour y aller chercher les insulaires. Nous n'apprend- 
rons quel aura ete leur sort, que par les premiers vaisseaux qui passeront 
par-l&. On a su seulement ces particularity de M. du Demaine, 
qui a ajoute qu'avant que de debarquer les Missionnaires, il avait 
aperju un de ces barbares, les fleches en main, qui, apres les avoir 
regardes fierement, et assez long-temps, s'etait ensuite retire dans le 
fond du bois. 


Note. 

Ce fut dans la grande lie Nicobare appelee Chambolan, la plus 
pres d'Achen, que debarquerent d'abord les deux Missionnaires. Ils 
employment environ deux ans et demi k y precher PEvangile; mais on 
ne peut pas dire au juste quel fut le fruit de leurs predications. 

De lh ils passerent aux autres lies, et principalement k celle qui 
s'appelle Nicobary, laquelle est situee par les huit degres trente minutes 
de latitude Nord. Ces insulaires sont doux, affables et beaucoup plus 
traitables que les peuples des lies voisines. Pendant dix mois de sejour 
que les Missionnaires firent dans cette lie, ils y donnerent une si haute 
idee de leur vertu que les habitans ne les virent partir qu'avec un regret 
extreme. Ces pauvres gens representerent inutilement aux deux Peres 
le risque quhls allaient courir de leur vie en s'abandonnant k des 
peuples feroces et inhumains. Ils ne purent rien gagner sur leur esprit, 
et ils furent contraints, pour ne leur pas deplaire, de les conduire 
contre leur gre k Chambolan, ou k quelqu'autre lie voisine, car on n'a 
pas pu verifier ce fait. 

Les Missionnaires y furent k peine quinze jours qufils y fmirent 
leur vie, sans doute par une mort voilente et cruelle, comme Pont 
reproche des-lors, et comme le reprochent encore aujourd^hui, les habitans 
de Nicobary h ceux de Chambolan, et coux-ei ne s'en defendent que 
par de mauvaises defaites. 

II semble meme que Pimage de leur crime est toujours presente k 
leurs yeux : la frayeur les saisit h la vue du pavilion blanc, lorsqu'un de 
nos brigantins parut dans le canal de Saint Georges qui passe aupres de 
cette lie. Ils furent meme plus d'une heure sans vouloir donner h bord, 
criant de leurs pirogues et priant en mauvais Portugais qu'on ne leur 
fit point de mal. 

Nos gens qui ne savaient point encore ce qufils apprirent depuis 
dans les lies voisines, n'eurent pas de peine k leur promettre une surete 
entiere; mais la contenance de ces barbares, lorsqu'on leur demanda des 
nouvelles des Missionnaires, fit juger que ces Peres avaient ete massa¬ 
cres. Le chef des Indiens repondit en tremblant qufil n'en avait nulle 
connaissance, un autre le tira par le bras; tous parurent deconcertes 
et consternes. 

C^est ainsi que nos Fran 9 ais vers 1715 quitterent Pile de Chambo¬ 
lan, et passerent k Nicobary, ou ils apprirent tout ce que nous venons de 
rapporter. Ces deux Missionnaires moururent accables de diverses 
maladies, et surtout de maux d^estomac et de flux de ventre, 


8 




( 58 ) 


Extract from a letter from Pere Taillandier, S. to Pere Willard, S. 

dated February 20, 1711. 

Le 3, nous passames entre les lies de Nicobar, qui sont k sept 
degres de latitude au Nord d^Achen, et ce jour-lk le riz man qua tout-k- 
fait dans le vaisseau. On donna k ces insulaires de la toile et du tabac, 
et ils nous donnerent en echange des cocos et des ignames : ce sont 
des racines fort insipides. 

* * * * * * * 

Le vaisseau mit k la voile le 10 Janvier 1710. Le 24 nous pass&mes 
pres des lies de Nicobar de 8 degres. Les insulaires vinrent dans 
quatorze canots nous apporter des ignames, des cocos et quelques poules, 
pour les eclianger contre du tabac en feuilles. Ils sont presque nus, leur 
couleur est dhm basane jaunatre; parmi les noirs ils pourraient passer 
pour blancs. Ils font une espece de pate de racines qui leur tient lieu 
de pain; car il ne croit dans leurs lies ni riz ni ble. 

Le 2 Fevrier nous mouillames k la rade de Pondichery. J'ai eu 
depuis la douleur de me voir separe du Pere Bonnet, avec qui Dieu 
m'avait uni dbme fa 9 on toute particuliere. Yous avez appris sans 
doute avec quel courage, lui et le Pere Faure, sont entres le 16 Janvier 
de cette annee 1711, dans les lies de Nicobar, pour annoncer Jesus-Christ 
aux peuples barbares qui les habitent; il serait inutile de vous redire 
ici des particularites qu^on a dejh mandees en France. Ainsi, je me 
contenterai, en finissant cette lettre, de vous communiquer quelques 
observations que j^ai faites dans le cours de ce long voyage, et je m'esti- 
merai heureux si elles vous font plaisir. 


I 



( 59 ) 


[“ Asiatic Researches” Vol. III.— Article VII.] 

On the Nicobar Isles and the Fruit of the Mellon.— By Nicolas 

Fontana, Esq. 

The S. W. monsoon having strongly set in on the Malabar 
Coast, it was deemed unsafe to remain there any longer; we therefore 
took our departure from Mangalore on the 20th May 1778, directing 
our course towards the Gulf of Bengal, and in less than ten days we 
came in sight of the Car-Nicobar Islands, the appearance of which, 
at seven or eight leagues distance, is much like a chain of moun¬ 
tains covered with woods; we anchored to the N. E. of one of them, 
in five fathoms with a good sandy bottom, supplied ourselves with water 
and wood, and proceeded in quest of the other Nicobars, or Nancowries 
as they are called, situated between eight and nine degrees of N. 
lat. to the northernmost point of the Island of Sumatra. They 
were descried on the 4th June to the S. W. ^ W. at the distance of 
ten leagues: the position of three of those islands forms one of the 
safest harbours in India, where ships of all sizes may ride with the 
greatest security, sheltered from all winds, about half a mile from shore; 
with the additional advantage of two entrances that may serve for get¬ 
ting in and out, both with a N. E. and S. W. monsoon, having a 
clear deep channel on each side. 

In one of the bays formed within those islands, we moored in 
12 fathoms, and there remained until the S. W. monsoon was quite 
over, which was in the beginning of September. The largest of those 
islands is called Nancaveri or Nancowry, about five or six leagues in cir¬ 
cumference, and better inhabited than any of the other two. The second 
is called Soury or Chowry, and the other Tricut, all closely situated; 
about ten leagues to the N. E. of them is another called Katchalh* 

Almost the whole of those islands are uncultivated, though there are 
a number of large valleys that might be rendered very fruitful with 
little trouble, the soil being naturally fertile, where the cocoanut and all 
other tropical fruits come spontaneously to the highest perfection, together 
with yams and sweet-potatoes, to obtain which it is only necessary to 
scratch the earth superficially, and the seeds so planted come forth in 
a few days.f 


* In the year 1756, the Danish East India Company erected on one of these islands a 
house to serve as a Factory, but on their failure in the year 1758, it was evacuated. On the 
re-establishment of the Company in 1768, another house wa3 built on Soury Island, which 
was in 1773, in like manner, ordered to be evacuated as useless to the Company’s interests : 
three or four European Missionaries, with a view of making proselytes, remained behind, 
and have continued there ever since, but without effecting even the conversion of a single 
person; they collect, however, cocoanut-oil, shells, and other natural curiosities, which 
they send annually to their Brethren at Tranquebar. 

An exact plan of those islands may be seen in the Neptune Oriental. 

f Tricut being the flattest of those islands is divided amongst the inhabitants of the 
other two, where they have their plantations of cocoanut and areca trees ; these last being 
very abuudant all over the Islands, 







( 60 ) 


The surrounding sea abounds with exquisite fish, shell-fish, as cockles 
and turtles, and a most splendid display of beautiful shells of the rarest 
sort are to be met with on the shore. The birds' nests,* so much esteemed 
in China, are also to be found among the rocks : ambergris is likewise to 
be met with, but the inhabitants have learned a mode of adulterating it, 
and it is therefore seldom to be found in a genuine state : if adulterated 
with any heterogeneous matter, such as wax or resin, the mode of dis¬ 
covery is simply by placing a small bit of it upon the point of a knife 
when hot, and if it evaporates without leaving any calx or cajput 
mortuum , and diffuses a strong fragrant smell, it is certainly genuine. 

The inhabitants of the Nicobar Islands are of a copper color, with 
small eyes obliquely cut,—what in ours is white being in theirs yellowish, 
—with small flat noses, large mouths, thick lips, and black teeth; well 
proportioned in their bodies, rather short than tall, and with large ears, in 
the lobes of which are holes, into which a man's thumb might be intro¬ 
duced with ease : they have black, strong hair cut round; the men have 
little or no beard; the hinder part of their head is much flatter and com¬ 
pressed than ours; they never cut their nails, but they shave their 
eyebrows.f A long narrow cloth made of the bark of a tree round their 
waist and between their thighs, with one extremity hanging down 


* Nidos hos, rupibus oceani orientalis affixos, parant hirundines marini, domesticis 
multo majores, ex holothariis mari innatantibus materiam decerpentes. Koempe. Amcen. 
p* 833. 

Though little can be added to M. Poivre’s description of the Salangane or Hirundo 
nidis edubbus , yet, as Captain Forrest was a perfect master of the Malay tongue, and 
described only what he had seen, it will not be amiss to subjoin his account of that 
singular bird. “ The bird with an edible-nest is called,” says he, “jaimaldni by the 
natives of the Muluccas, and layang-layang by the Malays : it is black as jet, and very 
much like a marten, but considerably smaller. Its nests, which the Malays called sarang, 
are found in caves, and generally in those to which the sea has access; and as they are 
built in rows on perpendicular rocks, from which the young birds frequently fall, those 
caves are frequented by fish and often by snakes, who are hunting for prey; they are made 
of a slimy gelatinous substance found on the shore, of the seaweed called agal agal, and 
a soft greenish sizy matter often seen on rocks in the shade when the water oozes from 
above. Before a man enters such a cave, he should frighten out the birds, or keep his 
face covered. The jaimaldni lays her eggs four times a year, but only two at a time: if 
her nest be not torn from the rock, she will use it once more, but it then becomes dirty 
and black: a nest, used but once before it is gathered, must be dried in the shade, since 
it easily absorbs moisture, and. if exposed to the sun, becomes red. Such edible-nests are 
sometimes found in caves which the sea never enters, but they are always of a dark hue, 
instead of being, like that now produced, very nearly pellucid: they may be met with in 
rocky islands over the whole Eastern Archipelago (by far the largest in the world), but 
never, I believe, on the coast of China, whither multitudes of them are carried from 
Batavia. The white and transparent nests are highly esteemed, and sold at Batavia for 
seven, eight, nine, or ten dollars a catty of lift.; but the crafty Chinese at that port, who 
pack up the nests one in another to the length of a foot or eighteen inches, that they may 
not easily be broken, seldom fail, by a variety of artifices, to impose on their employers.” 

f It is a custom among them to compress with their hands the occiput of the new-born 
child, in order to render it flat, as, according to their ideas, this kind of shape constitutes 
a mark of beauty, and is universally esteemed such by them: by this method, also, they say 
that the hair remains close to the head as nature intended it, and the upper fore-teeth verv 
prominent out of the mouth. ^ 




( 61 ) 


behind,* is all their dress. The women and men are of the same copper 
color, and very small in stature : a bit of cloth, made with the threads 
of the bark of the cocoanut tree, fastened to the middle, and reaching' 
half way down the thigh, forms all the covering of the women. Both 
sexes are, however, very fond of dress; and when the men go into the 
presence of strangers, they put on hats and old clothes that had been 
given them by Europeans ; but among themselves they are almost naked. 

They live in huts made of cocoanut leaves of an oval form, supported 
on bamboos, about five or six feet high from the ground; the entrance 
into the huts is by a ladder; the floor is made partly of planks, and 
partly of split bamboos. Opposite to the door, in the furthermost part 
of the hut, they light their fire and cook their victuals : six or eight 
people generally occupy one hut, and a number of skulls of wild boars 
forms the most valuable article of furniture. 

The occupation of the men consists in building and repairing their 
huts, which affords them an annual employment for six months at least, 
and in fishing and trading to the neighbouring islands. The women are 
employed in preparing the victuals and cultivating the ground; they also 
paddle in the canoes when the men go out. They unite in matrimony 
through choice, and, if the man is not satisfied with the conduct of the 
woman, either from her inattention to domestic concerns, or sterility, or 
even from any dislike on his part, he is at liberty to discharge her, and 
each unites with a different person, as if no such connection had taken 
place. Adultery is accounted highly ignominious and disgraceful, parti¬ 
cularly with persons not of the same caste: should it be proved, the 
woman would not only be dismissed with infamy, but on some occasions 
even put to death ; although, by the intervention of a small token given 
publicly, and consisting of nothing more than a leaf of tobacco, the 
reciprocal lending of their wives of the same caste is exceedingly 
common. 

A woman who bears three children is reckoned very fruitful ; few 
bear more than four; the cause may be attributed to the men, from a 
debility occasioned by the early intrusion of the testicles into the 
abdomen, the hard compression of them and the penis by the band¬ 
age round those parts, from premature venery and hebetation brought 
on by the immoderate use of spirits, and from the very inactive and 
sedentary life these people lead, it will not be difficult to account for that 
want of longevity which seems to prevail much in those islands, more 


* A traveller called Keoping, a Swede, who went to the East Indies on hoard a Dutch 
ship in the year 1647, which anchored off the Nicobar Islands, relates that they discovered 
men with tails like those of cats, and which they moved in the same manner. That having 
sent a boat on shore with five men, who did not return at night as expected, the day follow¬ 
ing a larger boat was sent well manned in quest of their companions, who, it was supposed, 
had been devoured by the savages, their bones having been found strewed on the shore, the 
boat taken to pieces, and the iron of it carried away. The account of this voyage was 
reprinted at Stockholm, by Silvium, in the year 1743. Linnaeus seems to have been too 
credulous in believing this man’s story, for in all my examinations Icould discover no 
sort of projection whatever on the os coccygis of either sex. What has given rise to this 
supposed tail, may have been the strip of cloth hanging down from their posteriors, which, 
when viewed at a distance, might probably have been mistaken for a tail. 





( 62 ) 


especially amongst the men, where none were to be seen older than forty 
or forty-eight years. The women, on the contrary, seem to live much 
longer. 

They are themselves so sensible of the scanty population of their 
islands that they study to increase it by inviting and even seducing 
some Malabars or Bengalese to remain amongst them when brought 
thither by the country ships, and of whom there are in almost all villages 
some to be found, who may be easily discerned from the natives . by 
their figure, features, color, and language. The natives encourage their 
stay by grants of land with plantations of cocoanut trees and arecas, 
and after a certain number of years they are permitted to make choice 
of a female companion. 

Their indolence is not to be equalled by any other people of the 
East. They go out a fishing in their canoes at night, and with har¬ 
poons, which they dart very dexterously at the fish, after having allured 
them into shallow water with burning straw; a sufficient number is soon 
caught to serve the family for a meal: they immediately return home, 
and, if by chance they catch a very large fish, they will readily dispose 
of one-half and keep the remainder for their own use. 

They entertain the highest opinion of such as are able to read and 
write; they believe that all Europeans by this qualification only are 
able to perform acts more than human; that the power of divination, 
controlling the winds and storms, and directing the appearance of the 
planets, is entirely at our command. 

This people like other savage nations dread the evil genius; some 
among them give themselves the air of divination, and presume to have 
secret confabulations with him; superstition must ever be in its full 
dominion where ignorance is so gross. 

Some of the natives having begun to fabricate earthen pots soon 
after died, and the cause being attributed to this employment, it has 
never been resumed; since, they prefer going fifteen or twenty leagues to 
provide them, rather than expose themselves to an undertaking attended, 
in their opinion, with such dangerous consequences. 

•r 

Whenever they visit one another, no sort of compliment or salu¬ 
tation takes place between them ; but when the visitors take leave, they 
are profuse, in good wishes, that last for some minutes, with different 
inflections of voice, to which the other constantly answers by repeating 
the words Calld calld , conch conch, quiagd, which may be rendered in 
English thus—Very well, very well; go, go, and return soon/' 

Behind or close by their huts the dead are buried : all the relations 
and acquaintance cry for some hours before the corpse is put into the 
grave, where it is interred with all possible solemnity, and m the best 
dress they can muster, and with abundance of food. ‘ After the bodv is 
covered with earth, a post is raised and fixed in the ground over the 
head of the deceased, about four feet high, to the top of which thev 
suspend strips of cloth with meal and areca nuts, and strew eocoanuts. 


( 68 ) 


all around. This supply of food for the deceased is ever after continued; 
a cocoa tree is also cut down for every person that dies. As soon as a 
man is dead his name is never mentioned, even if repeatedly asked; every 
one of the mourning visitors brings a large pot of toddy. The women 
sit round the corpse howling and crying, and by turns they go and put 
their hands on the breast and belly of the deceased, who is covered with 
striped cloth; the men are seated at a little distance, drinking and in¬ 
viting all the visitors to do the same, endeavouring thus to dispel their 
grief by a complete general intoxication, which never lasts less than a 
couple of days after the interment. 

The different changes in the moon are productive of great festivity 
and mirth among the Nicobarians, when the doors of their huts are de¬ 
corated with branches of palms and other trees : the inside is also adorn¬ 
ed with festoons made of slips of plantain leaves. Their bodies are, in 
like manner, decorated with the same ornaments, and the day is spent in 
singing and dancing, and eating, and drinking toddy, till they are quite 
stupified. 

The idea of years and months and days is unknown to them, as 
they reckon by moons only, of which they number fourteen, seven to 
each monsoon. At the fair season, or the beginning of the N. E. 
monsoon, they sail in large canoes to the Car-Nicobars called by them 
champaloon. The object of this voyage is trade; and for cloth, silver 
cion, iron, tobacco, and some other articles, which they obtain from Eu¬ 
ropeans, together with fowls, hogs, cocoa, and areca nuts, the produce of 
their own island, they receive in exchange canoes, spears, ambergris, 
birds-nests, tortoise-shell, and so forth. 

Ten or twelve huts form a village. The number of inhabitants on 
any one of these islands does not exceed seven or eight hundred. Every 
village has its headman, or captain as they term him, who is generally 
the oldest. Few diseases are known amongst them, and the venereal 
not at all; the small-pox visits them occasionally, but not of the con¬ 
fluent kind; what is more prevalent amongst them is the oedematous 
swelling of one or both of the legs, known in the west of India under 
the name of the Cochin leg , from the place where this disorder generally 
prevails. This endemial disease may be imputed to the following causes: 
ill-chosen and badly prepared diet, the bad choice of habitations, and an 
extremely indolent, inactive life. Fevers and colics are also frequent 
among them; when a person falls sick, he is immediately removed to 
the house of one of the priests, or conjurers, who orders the patient to be 
laid in a supine posture for some time; then friction with some oily 
substance is applied to the upper part of the body, and often repeated; 
which remedy they indiscriminately use for all complaints, never ad¬ 
ministering medicines internally. 

The only quadrupeds on these islands are hogs and dogs; of the 
former, however, only the sows are kept, and they are fed principally with 
the milk of the cocoanut and its kernel, which renders the meat of a firm¬ 
ness and delicious taste, even superior both in color and flavour to the 
best English veal. It may be worthy of remark that, although the 




( 64 ) 


neighbouring Car-Nicobar woods abound with monkeys of . different 
species, none are to be seen in these islands, notwithstanding their having 
been repeatedly brought over; they neither propagate, nor do they live 
for any time. 

Among the feathered tribe, wild pigeons are pretty abundant from 
June to September, on account of a berry which is then ripe, and on which 
they feed with great eagerness: at the same time pheasants and turtle 
doves are frequently found; the constant inhabitants of the woods are a 
species of the green parrot, or parroquet, with a black bill and collar; 
no other birds are to be found in them. 

The climate is pure, and might with little trouble be rendered very 
salubrious : constant sea-breezes fan their shores, thus preserving them 
from oppressive heat: vegetation continues without intermission: the 
woods are very thick, and the trees are bound together by a kind of twig 
or creeping shrub that renders them almost impervious. 

The Nicobar dance is as dull and inanimate as can be conceived, as 
well for the slowness and heaviness of its motions, as for the plaintive 
monotonous tune that accompanies it, with no instrument but their 
mournful, low voices, which are in perfect unison with the motion of their 
bodies. Men and women form a circle by putting their hands on each 
other's shoulders, they move slowly backwards and forwards, inclining 
sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left. 

The whole of their music consists of the following notes 



The basis of the language spoken by these islanders is chiefly 
Malay, with some words borrowed from Europeans and other strangers, 
as will appear by the following specimen 


Cilia 

• • • 

Father. 

Sciafin 


Evening. 

Cioum 

t • c 

Grandfather. 

Hatahom 

ft • • 

Night. 

Chia Enchana 

11 1 

Mother. 

Kamben 

• • • 

Noon. 

Ochia 

« • « 

Uncle. 

Menzovi 

• • • 

Yesterday. 

Encognee 

» 1 « 

Man. 

Holactas 

• • • 

Tomorrow. 

Covon 

# ft • 

Son. 

Charou 

• • • 

Great. 

Encand 

ft • ft 

Woman. 

Mombeschi 

• • • 

Small. 

Cance 

• ft ft 

Wife. 

Koan 

«• • 

Strong. 

Chegnoun 

• • • 

Child. 

At loan 

• • • 

Weak. 

Choi 

ft ft ft 

Head. 

Jo 

• • • 

Yes. 

Lai 

ft • • 

Forehead. 

At chiou 


No. 

Moha 

ft • • 

Nose. 

Lapoa 

• • • 

Is good. 

Holm at 

ft ft • 

Eyes. 

Pisi 

•«• 

Is enough. 

Manonge 

ft ft • 

Lips. 

Thiou 

•«• 

Me or I. 

Caleta 

ft • • 

Tongue. 

Mhihe 

• • • 

You. 

Incaougn 

ft ft ft 

Chin. 

Kalakala vounde. 

Farewell. 

Nann 

#• ft 

Ears. 

Emloum 

•«• 

Gold. 

Enchojon 

ftlft 

Hair. 

Henoe 

«• i 

Fire. 
































( 65 ) 


Halikolala 

• i i 

Neck. 

Dheah 

• t « 

Water. 

Tha 


Breast. 

Lhoe 

9 9 9 

Cloth. 

Vkian 

• • • 

Belly. 

Lanoa 

9 9 9 

A strip they wear 

Foun 

• • • 

Navel. 

Gni 

9 9 9 

House. 

Choal 

« • « 

Arm. 

Tanop 

9 9 9 

Pipe. 

Eckait 

• t • 

Shoulders. 

Carrovaj 

9 9 9 

Lemon. 

0c . h . 

• • • 

Back. 

Hoat 

9 9* 

Old cocoanut. 

Kinitay 

• t • 

Head and Fingers. 

Gninoo 

990 

Green ditto. 

Poto 

• • • 

Thigh. 

Nat 

9 9 9 

Cane. 

Colcanon 

• $ $ 

Knee. 

Pantan 

9 9 9 

Rattan. 

Hanhan 

9 9 9 

Leg. 

Aptejo 

9 9 9 

Chest. 

Oiscoa 

9 9 9 

Nail. 

Cerum 

9 9 9 

Needle. 

Hignoughn 

9 9 9 

Beard. 

Hendal 

9 9 9 

Musket. 

Tohon 

• • • 

Sick. 

Henathoa 

0 • • 

Knife. 

Lha-ha 

• • • 

Dead. 

Danon 

• • • 

Medicine. 

Hivi 

• t • 

Devil. 

Heja 

• • • 

Betel-nut. 

Hen 

• • • 

Sun. 

Achoe 

9 9 9 

Betel-leaf. 

Chae 

9 9 9 

Moon. 

Cion 

0 9 9 

Lime. 

Hayi 

9 9 * 

Wind. 

Chapeo* 

9*9 

Hat. 

Onejo 

• • t 

Water. 

Lenzo* 

9 0 0 

Handkerchief. 

Gnam 

• • • 

Calm. 

Hanchan chapeo. 

Put on your hat. 

Tenfagi 

• • « 

Daylight. 

Not 

9 9 9 

A hog. 

Ham 

9*9 

A dog. 

Duonde 

9 9 9 

To paddle or row 

Cochin 

9 9 9 

A cat. 

Poushile 

9 9 1 

To set down. 

Taffoach 


Hen. 

Iiahahon 

0 9 9 

To vomit. 

Ohia 

9 9 9 

Egg. 

Achicienga 

9 9 9 

To stand. 

Inlegne 

9 09 

Bird’s nest. 

Hichiackeri 

• 99 

To speak. 

Cuttoch 

9 9 9 

Parrot. 

Athe bet 

9 9 9 

To write. 

Cha 

• 00 

Fish. 

Ajouby 

9 9 9 

To light, 

Cap 

9 9 9 

Tortoise-shell. 

Luva 

9 9* 

Lead. 

Hanino 

9 9 9 

To eat. 

Caran 

• 9 9 

Iron. 

Peoum 

9 0 9 

To drink. 

Chanlo 

9 9 9 

Shirt and Coat. 

Etaia 

990 

To sleep. 

H&nk£ 

• • • 

Breeches. 

o 

Ha-caou 

* 9 t 

To buy. 

Hanho lola 

9 9 9 

Stockings. 

Hen vhej 

*99 

To sell. 

Dhanapola 

0 9 9 

Shoes. 

Laam 


To lay down. 

Halhut 

9 9* 

Bracelet. 

Hancihatena 


Come hither. 

Henp-ojou 

• * • 

Chair. 

Ciou 

9 9* 

Begone. 

Cheraclia 

• * * 

Table. 

Hetbaj 

*99 

To laugh. 

Para 

0 0 9 

Dollar, or silver 

Houm 

9 9 9 

To weep. 

Thanula 

9 9, 

Black. 

Hanan 

9 9 0 

To dance. 

Chunla 

9 * * 

Red. 

Hame 

0 0 9 

To rain. 

Unat 

9 • • 

White. 

Pheumhoj 

9*9 

To smoke. 

Cambalamag 

11 ... 

Striped cloth. 

Hansciounga 

*99 

To walk. 

1 





Numerals. 



Hean 

9 0 I 

One. 

Encata 

• f 1 

Nine. 

Haa 

» • • 

Two. 

Sicom 

• • • 

Ten. 

Loe 

• • « 

Three. 

Sicomhean 

• • • 

Eleven. 

Toan 

• • • 

Four. 

Sicomhaa 

• • • 

Twelve 

Tanee 

* • • 

Five. 

Hemom Thouma 

Twenty. 

Tafoul 

* * * 

Six. 

Rocate 

0 0 0 

Thirty. 

I sat 

9*9 

Seven. 

Toanmoan Thiuma 

Forty. 

Enfoan 

9 9 9 

Eight. 

Sicom sicom 

0 0 9 

Hundred. 


It seems that they have no expression for the numbers beyond forty, 
except by multiplication. 


# These two words are borrowed from the Portuguese. 


9 














( 66 ) 


Trees of great height and size are to be seen in their woods, of a 
compact texture, well calculated for naval constructions ;* but the pro- 
ductions of which they are more particularly careful are the cocoa and 
areca trees, the last being chiefly for their own consumption, as they 
chew it all day long with tobacco, betel-leaf, and shell-lime : the former 
is not only useful for their own and their hogs' nourishment, but also an 
object of trade. Most of the country ships that are bound to Pegu 
from either of the coasts of India touch at the Nicobar Islands in order 
to procure a cargo of cocoanuts, which they purchase at the rate of four 
for a tobacco leaf, and one hundred for a yard of blue cloth, and a bottle of 
cocoanut oil for four leaves of tobacco. The tropical fruits grow in those 
islands exquisitely flavoured, the pine-apple in particular : wild cinnamon 
and sassafras grow there also ; the coffee tree in two years yields 
fruit; yams are to be found for three or four months in the year only, and 
are eaten by the natives instead of the larum , a nutritive fruit, in the 
description of which, and the tree that produces it, we shall here 
endeavour to be very particular. 

The tree that bears this nutritive fruit is a species of palm, called 
by them larum , by the Portuguese mellori, and is very abundant in 
those islands, as well as in Car-Nicobar : it grows promiscuously in the 
woods among other trees, but it delights more particularly in a damp 
soil. The trunk is often straight, thirty or thirty-five feet high, and ten 
or twelve inches (the oldest even two feet) in circumference : the bark is 
smooth, ash-colored, with equidistant intersections, of a compact hard 
texture in its interior part, but soft and quite hollow in the centre from 
the top of the trunk : the leaves grow disposed like a calyx, about three 
feet long and four inches broad, ensiform and aculeate, of a dark green 
hue, and of a tenacious hard substance : the roots are out of the ground, 
and inserted at eight or ten feet on the trunk, according to its age, being 
not quite two feet in the earth : the fruit, which has the shape of a pine, 
and the size of a large jack, comes out of the bottom of the leaves : the 
age of a man is seldom sufficient to see the trees bearing fruit: its weight 
forces it out of the leaves, and when it is nearly ripe, which is known 
by the natives on the change of its color from green to yellowish, it is 
gathered, and weighs from thirty to forty pounds. The drupes are 
loosened by thrusting a piece of iron between their interstices : the 
exterior surface is cut off, and thus put into earthen pots covered with 
leaves, then boiled on a slow fire for several hours together : the frut is 
sufficiently boiled when the medullary part of it becomes soft and friable ; 
it is then taken from the fire and exposed to the cold air ; when cold the 
drupes are separated from the stalk, and the medullary part pressed out 
by means of a shell forced into them. Within the woody part of the 
drupes there are two seeds, in shape and taste much like almonds : the 
soft part is then collected into a spherical mass, and in order to extract 
all the stringy fragments remaining in it by the compression of the shell 
a thread is passed and repassed, until the whole is extracted, and it comes 
out peifectly clean; it is then of a pale yellow color, much resemblin 0, 

* One of these trees that our people cut down measured nine fathoms in circum¬ 
ference, or fifty-four ieet. 





( 67 ) 


polenta , or the dressed meal of the Zea Mays, and in taste much like it : 
when not newly prepared it has an acidity, to which it tends very 
strongly if long exposed to the atmosphere; hut it may be preserved a 
long time if well covered.* 

It is certain that the Nicobar bread-fruit tree differs very essentially 
from the palm described by Mr. Masson, and found in the interior parts 
of Africa, which bears a sort of bread-fruit. On my showing to 
Mr. Masson, in March 1790, the drawing of the tree here described, he 
was pleasingly surprized at the novelty, and declared he had never before 
seen it. It differs also from the bread-tree found in Otaheite , and des¬ 
cribed by Captain Cook in his Voyage Hound the World , as will appear 
very evident on a reference to the notes of that work. Some shrubs, 
whose leaves resemble much those of the Nicobar bread-fruit tree, are 
to be seen on the Coromandel Coast and in the Isle of France, where 
they thrive in some degree, but never attain the height of those at 
Nicobar: imperfect small fruits are seen once a year sprouting out, and 
the inhabitants derive an advantage from the leaves of the tree, which 
they convert into mats and bags to hold coffee. 


* Note by the President. — As far as we can determine the class and order of a plant 
from a mere delineation of its fruit, we may safely pronounce that the larum of Nicobar 
is the cadhi of the Arabs, the cetaeu of the Indians, and the pandanus of our Botanists, 
which is described very aivJctvardly (as Koenig first observed to me) in the supplement to 
.Linnaeus; he had himself described with that elegant conciseness, which constitutes the 
beauty of the Linnaean method, not only the wonderful fructification of the fragrant 
cetacu, but most of the fiowers which are celebrated in Sanscrit by poets for their color or 
scent, and by physicians for their medical uses; and, as he bequeathed his manuscripts to 
Sir Joseph Banks, we may be sure that the public spirit of that illustrious Naturalist will 
not suffer the labors of his learned friend to be sunk in oblivion. Whether the pandanus 
larum be a new species, or only a variety, we cannot yet positively decide; but four of 
the plants have been brought from Nicobar, and seem to flourish in the Company’s Botanical 
Garden, where they will probably blossom, and the greatest encouragement will, I trust, 
be given to the cultivation of so precious a vegetable. A fruit weighing twenty or thirty 
pounds, and containing a farinaceous substance, both palatable and 'nutritive in a high 
degree, would, perhaps if it were common in these provinces, for ever secure the natives 
of them from the horrors of famine; and the pandanus of Bengal might be brought, I 
conceive, to equal perfection with that of Nicobar, if due care were taken to plant the male 
and female trees in the same place, instead of leaving the female, as at present, to bear an 
imperfect and unproductive fruit, and the distant male to spread itself only by the help of 
its radicating branches. 




( ss ) 


A few particulars respecting the Nicobar Islands.—By the Rev. J. M. 

Chopard, Missionary Apostolic , dated 2nd June 1844. Extracted 
from the Journal of the Indian Archipelago , Pol. I!I. 

As far as my acquaintance with the natives of those islands and 
their language enabled me to carry on my investigations during a stay 
of about two years amongst them, I do not think that the amount of the 
whole population, spread or scattered over the Nicobar Archipelago, 
exceeds the moderate amount of 8,000 souls, of whom about 2,000 in¬ 
habit Car Nicobar. Terressa, where I was settled, had a population ot 
about 500 souls. 

Being but slightly acquainted with few of the languages of India, 

I am not able to trace back, through that channel, the origin of the 
savages of those islands. The shape of their body, and particularly 
the features of the face, incline me to believe that they belong rather to 
the Hindoo race, than to the Burmese or Malayan. The hair is not 
of a deep but rather slight black; the eyes black; the nose aquiline; the 
body well shaped-and proportioned; the stature exceeds that of the 
Burmese and Malays. The Nicobarians are strong and capable of 
carrying very heavy burdens. I have seen some of them carrying 
without any trouble 200 cocoanuts. I had with me a large trunk tilled 
with books which I was hardly able to move, one of the natives, to my 
great surprize, placed it upon his shoulders, and walked a good distance ‘ 
without being apparently fatigued. 

All the inhabitants or aborigines belong to the same race. In the 
islands of the south it strikes me that there is some mixture of Malay 
blood; in those parts too the Malay language is very extensively, or 
rather universally, known. 

I have much questioned the natives concerning their origin and the 
epoch when their ancestors landed first on those shores, but nothing 
satisfactory upon that important point could be obtained. The impres¬ 
sion their different stories have left upon my mind is, that from a very 
remote period the Nicobar Archipelago has been inhabited. It is hardly 
necessary to notice that their narrations upon that subject ended inva¬ 
riably in ridiculous and puerile fables, to which no credit can rationally 
be given. The absence of any monument whatever will probably leave 
the question for ever unsettled. 

The language used by the Nicobarians is polysyllabic, abounds in 
vowels, and its pronunciation is harsh, and far from being harmonious. 
After my arrival, when I heard the natives speaking, it appeared to me 
that the sound formed in the throat came out through the nose, and that 
the tongue,—the usual instrument for producing distinct sounds,—had 
very limited functions in their language. Young boys, as speaking 
generally more distinctly than grown-up persons, were my teachers 
at first, until my ears had been practised to the hearing of such 
confused sounds. 


( 69 ) 


The chief toocl of the Nicobarians is the pulp of the cocoanut, 
yams, plantains, papayahs , fowls, and, above all, pigs, which abound in 
those islands. It is not uncommon to see round a single hut 40, 50, or 
60 of them. The quantity of pigs killed and eaten is almost incredible, 
yet the Nicobarians, however voracious, separate the grease from the flesh, 
and keep it separately for culinary purposes; they never eat, or rather 
devour, anything but the flesh, and that for a single festival day. To 
satisfy my curiosity I saw and counted 7 5 large pigs killed for satiating 
the wolf-like appetite of the inhabitants of a considerable district of my 
island. In this respect the Chinese could not be a match for the Nico¬ 
barians. 

Notwithstanding this immoderate use of food, the natives are 
seldom to be seen with those nasty and disgusting ulcers so common 
amongst the Chinese who belong to the poorer class. They are attack¬ 
ed with many cutaneous diseases, but not of the worst kind. I do 
not recollect having ever met with a single individual marked with the 
small-pox, a circumstance which induces me to believe that that disease 
is quite unknown in those islands. Twice a year almost all the inha¬ 
bitants are attacked with a severe cough accompanied with fevers. 
The Nicobar Islands are famous as a place where strangers are inevi¬ 
tably attacked with a most violent fever. My unfortunate companion 
fell a victim to its malignity, I very narrowly escaped, and at last was 
compelled to go to Mergui, on the Tenasserim Coast, for the recovery 
of my most debilitated health, yet I believe that, with a stock of 
good medicines, and especially quinine, one can live in those islands 
and successfully check the fever. The probable cause of the un¬ 
healthiness of the country is its uncultivated state, the number of 
streams stopped in their course by fallen and decayed trees and plants, 
and forming many swamps and marshes. Should the country be 
cleared of its jungles, so far as to afford a free circulation to the air, 
I have no doubt that the Nicobars would not prove a more unhealthy 
place than other countries situated under the same latitude. Although 
fever seems to spare partly the natives to a certain extent, the 
period of their existence is confined between narrower limits than that 
of Europeans; it is exceedingly rare to see men living beyond 60 years, 
and women 50. From what I heard from the natives, population is 
certainly on its decline, and should Christian civilization not come 
to the help of those wretched savages, the time is probably not distant 
when they will have disappeared entirely, as so many wild tribes have 
done in different parts of the world. 

The Nicobarians do not possess the slightest knowledge of a 
Supreme Being; they have no religious Worship whatever, unless we give 
such a name to the superstitious ideas they entertain concerning the 
souls of the dead. They dread much the souls of wicked people, 
because they believe that, after their demise, or the separation 
of their earthly abode, those souls retain their former malicious pro¬ 
pensities, and endeavour to annoy the living. The Nicobarians believe 
that they can propitiate those evil spirits by making to them some 
offerings. It is customary among them to make great rejoicings on 


( 70 ) 


the occasion of the funeral of old people. The defunct, previously 
to his departure from this world, fattens a number of pigs and fowls, 
which are to be eaten on the occasion of his funeral. Next to this, 
in point of folly, the parents invariably bury with the corpse all the 
small property belonging to the deceased, such as clothes, or rather 
rags, silver, knife, &c., This is the reason why the silver they get in 
exchange for their cocoanuts, or which they rob from vessels which 
happen to fall a prey to their rapacity, disappears almost completely, 
without affording them any profit. 

The Nicobarians hold in dishonor simultaneous polygamy, but 
do not scruple at all about successive polygamy; that is to say, they 
never keep more than one wife at once, but they are easy in dismissing 
her for the slightest motive, and taking another. The dismissed wife 
is not considered as dishonored, but can easily find another husband. 
This is perhaps the principal reason of the comparative sterility of those 
women, notwithstanding their being of a corpulent and stout com¬ 
plexion. The females are universally far from being fair, and indeed 
they are probably the ugliest in the world ; they shave their heads in 
order to add, as one would believe, tu their natural ugliness and 
deformity. 

The chief productions of the country are the cocoanut and the 
betel-nut. The cocoanut tree grows on the flat ground, chiefly along 
the shores and in the valleys. The nut is not of a large kind, but 
filled with a thick pulp which yields more oil than the nut of a longer 
kind. The yams of Nicobar are probably the finest in India, both 
in size and quality. Oranges are very abundant and remarkably 
sweet. Various sorts of plantains are to be found. I had taken with 
me some seeds of different kinds of vegetables, they grew remark¬ 
ably well, and their taste appeared to me not inferior to those of 
the same kind I had eaten here. There is no timber of a large 
description; the hilly part of the country is covered with a high 
grass which the natives are in the habit of partially burning every 
year. 

The Danes are, I believe, the only Europeans who have made 
an attempt to colonize those islands. In about the middle of the 
last century they settled at Carmorta, but the little colony was soon 
swept away by the fever. It is said that many Danish Missionaries 
died in that island; their tombs are still to be seen, of course, in a 
very decayed state. When I went to that place I was so weak and 
exhausted that, to my regret, I could not go near them. The Mission¬ 
ary efforts appear to have been entirely unsuccessful, although they 
labored during a period of 30 years. I have found among the inha¬ 
bitants of that island no vestige at all of Christianity. The only 
thing which is likely to perpetuate the remembrance of the Danish 
Settlement is the great number of wild cows which have multiplied 
from the stock brought over by the Danes. 

In time of war the Nicobar Islands have often afforded a shelter 
to vessels; sometimes they went there to get water; Admiral Suffren 


9 


( 71 ) 


when cruising in the Indian seas touched there several times. During 
the late war the French Privateers anchored several times in the 
harbour of Nancowry ; up to this day the natives have retained many 
French words, mostly those coarse expressions which are chiefly used 
by sailors. I must say that they appear very quick in picking up a 
little of the languages used by the navigators who visit their islands; 
they understand besides Malay and a little of Portuguese, English, 
Hindoostanee, and Burmese. 

The only iron weapons they use are those they receive from 
foreigners in exchange for their cocoanuts, such as knives of different 
sizes and spears. Some of them possess muskets, but use them very 
little. They are much afraid of that weapon ; a single man, by point¬ 
ing at them a musket, would probably make them run away like a flock 
of sheep. Their favourite weapon, which is peculiar to them, is a sort 
of javelin, which they throw to a great distance of 50 yards, they 
often poison the point of the weapon, and the poison they use is a most 
subtle one. 

Prom what I have seen of this people, I do not believe they 
are naturally cruel and fond of spilling the blood of their fellow 
creatures. They have an aversion for such a deed, yet cupidity, or 
the desire of procuring things they are fond of, can prevail upon the 
inhabitants of the Southern Islands to perpetrate murder. Silver, 
either coined or in other shapes, seems to have a peculiar attraction 
for them, and is the article which chiefly induces them to commit 
murder upon the crews of vessels they suspect to have on board money 
or silver things. Cowardice accompanies them in the execution of 
their nefarious designs. They wait for the moment when the poor 
sailors are not on their guard to fall upon them and despatch them as 
quickly as they can, but they would never dare to make an open 
attack even upon a native crew. 

The following instance is an illustration of their way of attacking 
and murdering people. I vouch for the accuracy of the facts which I 
am about to relate, as I heard the story related to me by different 
natives on the very spot where the murder took place:— 

This year, about the end of January, a brig coming from Calcutta 
anchored at Carmorta Island, in a place called False-point; the vessel 
was commanded by a native. There was on board either a European, 
ora half-caste (he was dressed like a European), a Chinese carpenter, and 
a crew of about 25 lascars, half Malays and half Bengalese. After having 
taken on board about 1,000 cocoanuts, the boat, with a part of the 
crew, was sent on shore to take water; they, were well received by the 
natives, who invited them to rest and drink some cocoanut water. 
The treacherous offer was gladly accepted by the unsuspecting sailors. 
When they were quietly enjoying the refreshing drink, a party of 
natives, hidden behind bushes, rushed out suddenly, and with their 
large knives killed the poor sailors before they had time to act in 
defence; at the same time another party went to the vessel, as they 




( n ) 


were in the habit of doing, the sailors were eating their rice, the 
natives instantly fell upon them and soon despatched them. It appears 
that they did not stab the captain, but three stout men seized him by 
the waist, and smashed his head upon the deck; this being done, they 
plundered the vessel; having taken what they liked, they brought to 
the vessel the corpses of those who had been murdered on shore, made 
a hole at the hull, and sunk her. 

An inhabitant, about 35 years old, told me that he recollected 
of seven other vessels which had been cut off in the same manner; at 
Great Nicobar Island, a still greater number of similar deeds have 
been perpetrated, because the inhabitants are more cruel than in any 
other place. 



( 73 ) 


Notice of the Nicobar Islands.—By the Rev. P. Barbe. 

The Nicobar Islands, lying between the sixth and tenth degrees 
of N. latitude, have for some time attracted very much the atten¬ 
tion of the public in India, not so much on account of the productive 
qualities of their soil, but because of the islanders having com¬ 
mitted repeated murders on the crews of several vessels under the 
Biitish flag. Vessels sailing from the Coast or from Penang have, 
for a long period of years, touched there during the N. E. monsoon 
to take a cargo of cocoanuts, as do also large China junks, Malay 
prahus, and Burmese boats from Bassein, Rangoon, and the 
lenasserim Coast. Not a single year has passed without hearing 
of some vessels or boats being lost. But as no one suspected the 
islanders to be capable of piracy, the loss was always attributed 
either to bad weather or to the incapacity of the captains. It is 
but a few years since Government has been convinced that the 
Nicobarians, although destitute of real courage and bravery, have 
been guilty of the greatest crimes, in murdering peaceful people, who 
could not suspect that the natives, whose appearance is so simple and 
timid, would ever conceive and dare to execute such treacherous designs. 
So there is very little doubt now that a great part of the vessels which 
were supposed to be lost in the Bay have been cut off and plundered 
bv the natives of these islands, and their crews found there a watery 
grave. 

The various islands forming the group of the Nicobars are Chowry, 
Terressa, Bompoka, Tillangchong, Carmorta, Nancowry, Katchall, 
Car-Nicobar, the Little Nicobar, the Great Nicobar, and some other 
smaller islands. The S. W. monsoon begins in the latter part of May 
and lasts till October. During that period rain falls in great abun¬ 
dance, and the wind blows hard : there is a heavy swell, and it is 
dangerous to approach the islands. Few vessels touch there during that 
monsoon ; but in the N. E. monsoon, vessels and Burmese, Chinese and 
Malay boats are seen there taking a cargo of cocoauuts, betel-nuts, and 
collecting birds' nests, trepang or sea-slug, ambergris, tortoise-shell, &c. 
They give in barter black and blue cloths, coarse handkerchiefs, red 
cloth, cutlasses, Burmese daos, silver or German-silver spoons, ardent 
spirits, tobacco, red woollen caps, old pantaloons and jackets, blacti 
hats, &c. When a vessel reaches the place, the people of the village 
contract for supplying a cargo in so many days, and they seldom fail to 
fulfil their engagement; they take in advance generally the goods given 
in barter. 

The Nicoharians are not very expensive in their dress ; a small 
piece of blue cloth, from three to four inches broad, and four or five feet 
long, tied round their loins, is the covering of a man ; sometimes they 
encircle their heads and loins with young branches or grass. When 
the headmen of the villages go on board the vessels, they are more 
decently clad : they have a black hat or red cap, coat, jacket, pantaloon, 
&c. The women, in opposition to the custom of persons of their sex in 

10 



( 74 ) 


other countries, shave their heads, wrap round their loins grass tied 
with a string about a cubit broad ; and on great occasions a piece of blue 
cloth over the grass. -When they appear in public, they generally 
cover their breasts. Men and women use so large a quantity of 
betel-nut, lime, and betel-leaves, that their teeth are as black as ink; 
and the space between them being filled with that matter, they appear as 
a solid piece, much like the horn invested in the jaws of the tortoise. 

It is very difficult to have an accurate notion concerning the 
origin of the Nicobarians. They have projecting check-bones, flat 
visages, flattened nose, scanty beard, straight black hair, and 
Chinese eyes. Their complexion is dark-olive ; they are corpulent 
muscular, and well-made; but their legs are rather short in com¬ 
parison with the trunk; the lower extremity being more developed 
than the upper one. Their general size is from five feet to five 
feet two inches. But the inhabitants of Chowry are of a darker 
complexion, more muscular, and have an air of independence, 
which is one characteristic mark of the Burmese. I saw some 
men and women at Terressa belonging to Chowry, and judging 
by them, the general height of these islanders must be from five feet 
five inches to five feet ten inches. Although’ these people appear to 
hold some relation to the Malays, on account of the resemblance of 
many of their features, yet the shape of their eyes, their manners, 
religion, language, and many characteristics are so different, that they 
must be considered as a particular race. The Malays having not set¬ 
tled there, the Nicobarians have preserved the pure blood of their 
ancestors. I am not far from thinking that they belong to the same 
race of people who formerly lived outlie sea-shore of Sumatra. When 
the Malays settled in the island, they took possession of the whole 
of the level country, and compelled the Battas, the original inhabitants, 
who would not mix with them, to take refuge in the interior of the 
island, so that race is now master only of the mountains. 

There is a tradition amongst the Nicobarians that the first 
stranger who came to their island, seeing something moving on 
the sand, perceived small persons of the size of an ant. He took 
care of them till they attained the common size of men, so began 
the origin of the Nicobarians. According to another tradition, a man 
sprung out from the ground, and taking a bitch for his wife, had two 
children, who, in the course of time, peopled the island. A man 
murdered was buried, and from his head sprung the first cocoanut 
tree; some time after all the inhabitants were destroyed by an inunda¬ 
tion, with the exception of one man and one bitch, who again 
peopled the island. In the course of time a vessel, having a prince for 
captain, visited Terressa, who, on his landing, was murdered by the 
inhabitants; his wife was taken on shore, and treated with the great¬ 
est respect, but the spot on which was shed the blood of her husband, 
being always before her eyes, she was very unhappy. On one night 
she was advised in a dream by her mother to remove that bloody 
spot from Terressa; she did so, and then Bompoka was separated from 
that island. 


( 75 ) 


The inhabitants of Teressa believe that the people of Nancowry 
are the descendants of Malays, who, visiting in their fishing excur¬ 
sions that island, lost their boats and settled there. The Car-Nicobar 
people are, according to them, descendants of the Burmese, who, in a 
revolution which took place in their country, were obliged to run away 
from the Tenasserim Coast and landed at Nicobar. 

The dialects spoken by the islanders differ more or less; and the 
difference does not arise only from pronunciation, but from a great 
many words which are not the same ; so that the inhabitants of one 
of the islands can scarcely make themselves understood by the in¬ 
habitants of another. 

The islanders having no written language, the few words to be 
found at the end of this letter have been therefore orally communi¬ 
cated to me. I wrote them as the sounds occurred to my ear, 
without presuming to say that I have succeeded in representing them 
correctly. 

The Nicobarians show great skill in the building of their houses 
and boats. Their dwellings are strongly built; they are supported by 
large posts, and are elevated above the ground from eight to nine feet. 
The flooring, which is made of planks, has a circular form, and the 
roof, which has the shape of a beehive, is covered with grass, called 
lalung by the Malays, about a foot thick. They are without windows, 
nor have they any partition. The entrance is from below; these 
houses will last from ten to twelve years without repairs; and there is 
no other furniture but earthen pots, cocoanut-shells to carry water, a 
round piece of wood which they use for a pillow, spears, knives, 
swords, and the iJca, which is their general food. 

Their boats vary in size from six to twenty feet long, and from 
two to four feet broad, having an outrigging : they are generally safe ; 
two or three poles support their sails. It is a pleasure to see how 
well these natives manage their canoes when meeting the surf. 

These islanders are lazy and inactive, cowardly, treacherous, 
drunken, and I am sorry to say that crimes against nature are not 
unknown to them. Every evening the villagers meet in one of the 
houses, and there they spend part of the night in drinking, singing, 
and dancing. Like children they desire everything they see, without 
troubling themselves whether the object be useful or not. When a 
vessel arrives, the headman of the village in his best dress goes on 
board, accompanied by some other persons, whom he always calls 
his children. They offer to the captain young cocoanuts, yams, and 
plantains. If asked what they wish to have in return, their 
answer is, HaheJcienten man , which means “ You are my father/ 
Although they seem to have no wish for all that they see, yet they 
expect to get drink or something else. The headman then hands the 
certificate^he has received from former captains. It is impossible to 
avoid laughing when the high sounding names of Byron, Smith, 




( 70 ) 


Rodney, Nelson, &c., are g*iven to the bearers of the certificate. If 
a captain treat some of them very kindly, and make to them some 
presents, he is sure that some of the islanders will be called after 
his name. In the year 1832, I saw at Rangoon two persons from 
Car-Nicobar ; they paid a visit to the Italian Bishop who was there, 
and they were so much pleased with some trifle they received from 
him, that the old man told him— u Mv name being Captain John, I 
cannot take your name; but my son not being captain yet, he shall 
be henceforth called Captain Bishop.” The Nicobarians have different 
names. If they go on board an English vessel, they take an English 
name, if on board a junk, they take a Chinese name, &c. 

The Nicobarians appear to have a great facility for learning lan¬ 
guages ; I do not mean to say that they speak the languages very well, 
but they are able to make themselves understood in many. The Portu¬ 
guese, spoken in Mergui, is their favourite language; and the respect¬ 
able people of the different islands are more or less acquainted with it. 
The Malay is well understood by some of the people of Nancowry, and 
the Great and Little Nicobars; some of the people can speak a little 
English, Burmese, Chinese, Hindoostanee, &c., &c. 

In mentioning the character of these people, I have stated that 
they are treacherous, and as a proof of it, I shall relate the following 
facts:—In 1833, a Cholia vessel was cut off in the False Harbour of 
Nancowry, and every person on board murdered. In 1839, the pilot 
of a whaler being anchored at the same spot, the captain, some of 
the officers, and the greater part of the crew, were slaughtered by 
the natives. In 1844, Captain Ignatius Ventura, from Moulmein, 
commanding* the Mary , anchored on the N. side of Terressa at 
2 o'clock in the afternoon : one hour after, the captain and crew 
were murdered. In the same year, Captain Law met the same 
fate at Carmorta. Another vessel three years ago, after having- 
taken part of her cargo at Katchall, sailed to the False Harbour 
of Nancowry to complete her cargo, there also the captain and crew* 
were slaughtered by the natives. The headman of Katchall, who had 
given a part of the cargo to the above vessel, related the fact to me. 
He spoke in the highest terms of the captain of the said vessel, as 
likewise of Captain Ventura. I was well acquainted with the last 
mentioned person; he w^as most kind and honest, consequently incapa¬ 
ble of provoking any person. But it appears that it was not so wdth 
the vessel first mentioned, they highly exasperated the natives by their 
conduct. 

It does not appear that the Nicobarians have any exact idea of a v 
Supreme Being. They say it is true that there is a great spirit, whom 
they call Reos. But I suspect that this word they have received from 
the Christians of Mergui, who have been visiting these islands durino* 
the last two centuries; the words Deos and Reos are so nearly alike 
that the one appears to be a corruption of the other. They admit the 
existence of spirits to whom they attribute sickness, death, and scarcity 
in the crops; they offer them pigs, fowls, &c., to propitiate them. 
Once in the year, and sometimes when great sickness prevails, they 


( 77 ) . 

build a laige canoe, and tliG Minloven or priest has the boat carried 
close to each house, and there by his noise he compels all the bead spirits 
to leave the dwelling*, and to get into the canoe; men women, and 
children assist him in his conjuration. The doors of the house are shut, 
the ladder is taken out, the boat is then dragged along to the sea-shore, 
where it is soon carried off by the waves with a full cargo of devils; 
those malignant spirits are effectually prevented from taking their 
abode again in the village by a screen made of pieces of cloth, which 
keeps out of their baneful sight the place where the houses stand. This 
feast, which takes place at the end of S. W. monsoon, is called by the 
Nicobarians Keiv Hivi. In the beginning of the N. E. monsoon all 
the women are obliged to fast for three or four days. During that time, 
they dress as mad persons, and go from house to house singing and danc¬ 
ing. The Nicobarians have also in their houses idols of the most ugly 
shape, representing men and women; some with European dress and 
some with the scanty dress of the natives. They have short and thin 
legs, and a large belly, and from their necks hang spoons, cocoanuts, &c. 

The Nicobarians have such a high idea of the Europeans, that to 
them they attribute the creation of their islands, and they think it 
depends on them to give fine weather, nice breezes, &c.; they are con¬ 
vinced that the Minloven can cure every disease, make people sick, and 
also deprive them of life. Should any one be suspected of causing 
death, the villagers would immediately kill him : this has been the case 
several times. When the French Missionaries were living at Terressa, 
the villagers went to them on several occasions, saying —“ Senhor Padre, 
give us some rain if you please; our yams are dying; we know you can 
do it if you like.” And on one occasion, the priests were threatened to 
be murdered if there was no rain. On the following day, fortunately, 
a strong shower fell during the night, and the people thanked them most 
cordially. One of the Clergy being on board of their canoe, on his way 
from Chowry to Terressa, the crew told him —“ Senhor Padre, some 
breeze if you please”; some time after, the wind blowing a little fresh 
“ basta” cried they, “ it is enough, do not give any more of it, otherwise 
the boat will be capsized.” One day, Gold-mohur, who is the most 
respected man of the Laxis, a village situated at Terressa, went to the 
Missionaries, telling them— ff You think, perhaps, that the inhabitants 
of this place are bad people. I will convince you of the contrary; to¬ 
morrow I will take all the inhabitants to you, and by examining their 
hands, you will see that there is not a single murderer amongst them.” 
When I was at Katchall speaking to some of the people about the 
murder committed on board of vessels, every one of them showed me 
the inside of their hands, saying—“ Is there any spot of blood on them ?” 
These people are convinced that Europeans, by looking into their hands, 
know if they have been guilty of some crime. 

The population of the Nicobar Islands is from six to seven thou¬ 
sand souls. The whole of them live on the sea-shore; their villages, 
which are surrounded by cocoanut and betelnut trees, are small, seldom 
more than three or four houses are seen on the same spot. The men 
have only one wife with the exception of those of Chowry Island. The 






( 78 ) 


women enjoy the privilege of divorcing when they think proper, so, 
should another man captivate their heart, they send away the first 
husband, and associate with the man who has been fortunate enough to 
please them. Not having children, being considered as a curse, in that 
ease the separation always takes place. I saw at Terressa a woman who 
had been married on that account nine times. It is the custom for 
young people to live one year as husband and wife before the marriage 
ceremonies take place. Should they live on good terms, and be happy 
during that period, then the couple is united in the presence of the 
villagers and of the Minloven. A feast is given to all the friends and 
relations; large pigs are killed; those that are invited daub their faces 
with the blood, &c. Should the husband die, the wife is seldom married 
again. 


The women, during their course, daub the whole of their body 
with the blood of pigs and fowls; and they drink freely the water 
in which they have infused several roots. When enceinte dancing 
and singing are not allowed in their village, nor can the relations 
sell pigs or fowls to make curry. When a child is born, it is a 
great rejoicing amongst them: they feast for several days. When 
a person is sick, they hang to his neck young cocoanuts, a spoon, and 
small carved figures, to amuse the spirit; small baskets filled with betel 
leaves are suspended to the trees, and the Minloven is sent for. He 
never gives any medicine, but excites friction on the different parts of 
the body : he binds the members of the sick in different directions; 
claps his hands, and makes a great deal of noise. He gives orders to the 
relations to cut some of the trees, and to tie to the posts of the house 
some of their branches, with young cocoanuts. Should the person be in 
his last extremity, the Minloven gives a song of farewell. Friends and 
relations never cry at the death of a person : their mourning is in the 
shaving of their heads : the villagers go to the house where the corpse 
is, and there they drink till they are intoxicated. A coffin is made of a 
boat cut in two, and, some hours after death, the body is carried to 
the grave, on which they put cocoanuts and plantains; the Minloven, 
taking wooden poles, goes to the sea-shore, and fixes them in the sand 
in such a manner that, when left to themselves, they fall; he then takes 
them again and throws them in the sea: when he reaches the village, 
he makes a great noise, and the villagers throw out immediately the 
ashes they have in their houses. If the dead be poor, a few days after 
the burial the corpse is taken out from the grave; they bring it to all 
the houses of the village, and from thence to the place where are the 
bones of the persons who died before him. They hang the coffin between 
two trees, six or seven feet from the ground; when the string is rotten, 
the coffin falls, and the bones are partly eaten b}? the pigs. Should the 
dead be one of the captains, the corpse remains in the grave for three or 
four months. Some people in their best dress go to call relations and 
friends from the other villages to remove the bones; the pigs of the 
largest size are killed, and singing, dancing, and particularly drinking, 
are kept up for several days. When a person dies, the villagers cannot 
go on that day to the jungle, fearing to be killed by the hivi or spirit: 
they abstain also from the food to which the deceased was partial. 


( 79 ) 


The Nicobarians give credit to dreams, and are much addicted to 
superstition. They will not cross a jungle carrying any box, nor will 
they use nails in the construction of their houses. They never bathe 
alone; nor will they go to the burial ground; nor will they cut large 
trees in the forest before offering to the spirit who resides there; nor will 
they eat at the same meal pork and turtle. When in their boats, after 
drinking the water of young cocoanuts, they are very careful not to 
throw into the sea the shells. Before they build a house, the Minloven is 
called to choose the spot, and by different ceremonies, he compels the 
hivi to leave the place. When a new canoe is to be launched, a fire is 
lighted round it to compel the spirit to quit the boat. These people 
have the idea that some have it in their power to cause a person's death 
merely by thinking of it; and should a villager dream that such a one 
is doing so, there is no other means to escape but by going immediately 
to another island. The greatest part of persons seen in islands where 
they are not born have been compelled to leave their own on this account. 
If the dreamer mention his dream to no one but to the heads of the 
village, the sentence is passed, and the eaters of men, as the Nicobarians 
call them., are taken and fastened to a tree close to the village, leaving 
them to perish by hunger : no friend, no relative, would give them 
anything to eat. Some years ago a young woman of Terressa was 
starved on that account, and it was but on the seventh day that death 
put a stop to her sufferings. 

The Nicobarians never use anything taken from a vessel on which 
a murder has been committed before the Minloven has, by prayers and 
supplications, purified the articles; being under the persuasion that, if 
they did not resort to such expedients, the spirit of the murdered person 
would inevitably kill them. 

In Nicobar, every one is his own master, even children. Persons 
who have been in foreign countries are respected, and have some authori¬ 
ty over their countrymen. Such is the case also with aged people, and 
persons who have a great number of cocoanut trees and many pigs. But 
there is not a single person in all the Nicobars who has it in his power 
to exercise control over, I will not say one of the islands, but even a 
single village; should a person be guilty of a grievous offence, or repeat¬ 
ed thefts, he is compelled to leave the island. Some years ago a person 
who had been sent out of Terressa for robbery returned thereto, and as 
he was following again his old trade, he was stabbed to death by the 
order of the head-people of the village. I think that such occurrences 
are very rare, as it appears that there is a general good understanding 
and union amongst them. 

The prevailing food of the Nicobarians are pigs, poultry, turtle, 
fish, cocoanuts, yams, ika, and fruits. 

The pigs, which appear to be derived from the Chinese breed, being 
fed on cocoanuts, are very fat, and their flesh is of a superior flavor. 
Although they are to be found in every island, Terressa is the place where 
they abound. Some of the villagers of Laxis have as many as sixty or 
seventy. They are let loose in the jungle; the owner calls them every 






( 80 ) 


day by striking on a plank with a stick; on their hearing the noise, 
they run instantly in the direction of the shed where the cocoanuts are 
kept. After they have fared on the allowance, which consists of two 
cocoanuts for each, they return to the forest. Although there are many 
sheds to which the pigs are called in the same manner, those brutes, 
however, never mistake the place where they have to look for their 
food. This mode of living g'ives to those animals the appearance 
of wild pigs. I saw some of the young ones variegated, reddish, 
and whitish. A large pig is sold for four or five rupees; but if cloth 
or knives are given in barter, then it may be had at half that amount. 
White pigs are very scarce. I saw two at Terressa, and the owners would 
not part with them on any account. Should the authors of culinary 
books require a new system for cooking meat, I will gratify them with 
a receipt on that imaigor in use amongst the Nicobarians. Having killed 
the pig, daub your face with its blood, cut the animal in pieces, put it 
on the fire for one or two minutes until the hair is burned off, then 
take off* instantly and eat. 

The fowls are scarce, and, if bought with silver, they give but two 
or three for a rupee; but the same number may be had for a common 
table knife, old or new. 

Although there is plenty of fish about the islands, the natives, hav¬ 
ing no nets, catch but very few. Their only mode of fishing is with a 
basket and harpoon. Great skill is displayed both by old and young 
in using this instrument, seldom missing their aim. A part of the fish 
caught is generally eaten raw on the spot, and the remainder is taken 
home to the family to be eaten in the same plain manner. 

Different species of turtle are found at Nicobar; amongst them 
is the imbricated turtle which furnishes the tortoise-shell: the flesh being 
umvholesome cannot be eaten ; but it is not the same with the green 
turtle, whose flesh supplies good food, and whose eggs are fine eating; 
they are particulary common at Car-Nicobar. The natives take advan¬ 
tage of the time when the turtle deposit their eggs in the sand; during 
the night they approach them slowly, and, turning them on their 
carapace , they leave them in that position till next day, when they 
carry them home. These turtles lay about one hundred eggs at a time. 

The group of the Nicobar seems to be the land of cocoanut trees. 
1 have never seen any country where they grow so well and in such 
abundance; the water of the young cocoanuts is superior in flavor to 
any I have tasted elsewhere. If Providence had not provided those 
islands with these useful trees, I know not what would become of the 
inhabitants; and I am sure that the greatest punishment which could 
be inflicted on them would be the cutting down of these trees, on which 
they mostly rely for their subsistence. Having no rice, the nut is its 
substitute, and the cocoanut water is their general drink. Being very 
lazy, they never climb up the trees to get the ripe fruit, but let them 
fall of themselves, leaving them at the foot of the tree till they are 
wanted. The only thing which can induce them to climb up is to get 
the young cocoanuts, in order to obtain the water to drink or the 


( 81 ) 


toddy, which, when fermented, is an intoxicating* liquor; there is no 
house without a supply of it, and the first thing that is offered to a 
visitor is a cocoa-nut filled with that stuff. Men and women indiscri¬ 
minately climb the trees, except at Chowry, where none but persons of 
the fair sex enjoy that privilege. 

The Nicobar yams have a particular taste and flavor, which they 
lose in part when transplanted in other countries. Although very little 
trouble and care is necessary for their growth, yet the Nicobarians, 
through carelessness and indolence, allow themselves to be deprived of 
that wholesome root during six months in the year. 

The eka , or ika, or milor as it is called by the Portuguese, is a fruit 
of the size and shape of the jack; weighing from ten to fifteen pounds. 
It grows on a tree which is from twenty to thirty feet high, the trunk is 
funiliformis, foliis pinearis. The fruit being boiled, the edible part is 
separated from the filaments with a shell, which, for greater convenience 
(the women alone perform that work), is held between the toes. This 
being done, they make it into loaves, weighing from ten to twelve 
pounds each; it will keep for several months. When the natives take 
their meals, they cut a slice of it, which, being mixed with the kernel 
of the cocoanut, affords them substantial food. This bread resembles 
much in taste and colour the sweet potatoe. These trees grow in all the 
islands. 

The fruits the most common' are plantains, papayas , and jacks. I 
have seen some oranges and sweet-lime, but of an inferior quality. 
There is scarcely any marked difference in the soil of the various islands 
of the group, and therefore what grows in one of the islands would 
equally be found growing in the other. To certain islands, however, 
is allowed by natives the privilege of growing certain articles, which is 
denied to the other; thus, Nancowry is the only island in which paddy 
can be sown, &c. These restrictions extend not only to planters, but 
affect also tradesmen : for instance, boats are to be built at Nancowry; 
earthen pots are to be manufactured at Chowry; lime is to be burnt at 
Car-Nicobar. The islanders are obliged to have recourse to the above- 
mentioned places for those articles. This practice seems to be the 
result of a rather sound policy, the object of which is to establish and 
keep up an uninterrupted intercourse between the people of those various 
islands. Who would have suspected the Nicobarians capable of so wise 
a political institution ! ! ! 

The Great Nicobar is remarkable for the heigdit of its hills rising in 
succession and covered with thick jungle. The inhabitants are few in 
number, and from their having an almost continuous intercourse with the 
Malays, some of them are tolerably acquainted with their language, 
The Captain of the Steamer Ganges paid a visit to that island, and, 
having anchored his vessel in the bay on the S. E. side of the 
island, proceeded in his boat to survey the river as far as 20 miles up. 
The soil appeared to him to be very rich, particularly on the left side. He 
saw some deserted huts and a few plantations of cocoanuts. In some 
places the river was very wide, and he never found less than two 

11 


( 82 ') 


fathoms of water. He reached a place where there was a fence, about 
two feet high. A shed was erected inside, but the inmates having it 
appears heard the noise of oars, had all fled : on the fire was iJca half- 
boiled, not in earthen pots as used by the Nicobarians, but in the 
broad and thick leaves which surround the betelnut, made in the shape 
of a pot. In the same enclosure were also pigs and fowls. 

The interior of this island is inhabited by a race of people distinct 
from those of the Nicobars. It is said that this tribe is barbarous, and 
much inclined to warlike excursions to the great annoyance of their 
neighbours; they are of a dark complexion, and have curled hair. It is 
a great pity that we know so little about a people who, having had 
hitherto no intercourse, nor the least communication with any other 
race, and being left to their own resources, could give us an idea of 
what man is when he has no other guide for his conduct, but the 
dictates of his vitiated nature. This tribe, with a dark complexion and 
curled hair, whether they are Papuans or Andamans, is a question which 
no one could answer, except a person who had seen them both. Some 
persons have been brought from the Andamans to Penang, and no 
doubt has ever been entertained but they are unquestionably of African 
extraction. I had occasion to see at Nan cowry a man from Mozam¬ 
bique, who had seen several times persons from the Andamans, and who 
assured me that they were people belonging to the same race as himself. 
It is not to be supposed that the above-mentioned person could have 
confounded two races so distinct as are the Africans and the Papuans. 
The hair of the last mentioned race grows in small tufts, each having 
a spiral twist. The forehead rises higher ; the nose is more projecting 
from the face; the upper lip is longer; the lower projects forward 
from the lower jaw to such an extent that the chin forms as it were 
no part of the face. This description given by Sir Everard Home 
forms a striking mark of the dissimilarity between the two races. 

The Little Nicobar has a beautiful anchorage ; the Steamer Ganges 
anchored opposite to a sandy beach close to Pulo Milu, at a short 
distance from the sea-shore. There is between the hills a beautiful 
valley, irrigated by a small river running from the south to the north. 
At the mouth of that river is a cave, in which numbers of the collocalia 
fuciphaga build their nests ; the bottom of the cave is filled several feet 
deep with guano. Coal has been found towards the northern point of 
the island; but it appears that the product would not pay the expenses 
of working it. The hills which cover the interior of the island may 
be estimated from one thousand to twelve hundred feet high. The sea 
slugs called trepang, which is such a delicacy for the Chinese, abound in 
the harbour. 

The beauty of the harbour, the safety of the anchorage, and the 
fertility of the soil, induced the Danish Government to choose this 
island for their head-quarters. The Steamer Ganges , which was bought 
for the use of the new colony, went in December last to Penang°in 
order to procure coolies. Of the forty Chinamen taken on board, a^art 
of them were unfortunately opium smokers ; the consequence was that, 
when the supply of that drug which they had brought from Penang 


( 83 ) 


was exhausted—being unable to procure any at Nicobar—they had no 
strength to go on with their work. After lingering for some time, they 
fell victims to the deadly effect of that most pernicious habit. The 
remainder of the Chinamen have been employed in clearing a place for 
the stores, and making roads ; they have planted samples of sugar-these 
coffee, nutmegs, &c. It appears that the luxuriant growth of cane, 
plants exceeds the planter’s expectation. 

I entertain very little doubt that the Danes will finally succeed in 
colonizing the Nicobar Islands; but great patience is required, and much 
money is to be expended for clearing the land. The fever, which attacks 
the natives, and particularly foreigners trading thereto, especially when 
they sleep on shore, is to be no doubt attributed partly to the dense 
thick forest covering the ground. Of the four French Missionaries who 
lived at Terressa, one died of fever soon after his arrival ; a second one, 
after having been laid up with the same disease for more than a year, 
breathed his last at Mergui. The two surviving are still lingering under 
the same complaint, although they have left Terressa almost two years 
since. The natives of Car-Nicobar when attacked with fever, rub 
themselves all over before a fire with hog’s lard. I do not know how 
far this remedy, which affords relief to those islanders, would succeed 
with foreigners. 

Should the Danish Government wish to go on with the colony, the 
best plan, in ‘my humble opinion, would be to employ Malays or Siamese 
to clear the forest; they are the people most fit for that purpose; the 
Chinese are most certainly the best cultivators amongst the Asiatics, 
but not being accustomed to the clearing of jungle, their work in that 
line would not compensate for the high salary which they receive. 
They, being accustomed to live on a good and abundant food, would 
certainly prove a heavy burden on a new settlement, such as the 
Nicobar, where provisions are, with so great a difficulty, to be had. 
The planters of Penang, having been annoyed by the importunities of 
the Chinese laborers, who are never satisfied with their present condi- 
tion, have partly employed laborers from the Coromandel Coast; these 
coolies are a hard-working people, receive low wages, and are not 
impertinent towards their employers as the Chinese commonly are. 
It would be very easy for the Danish Government to procure laborers 
from the Coromandel Coast; rice and salt fish being their food, they 
would be a lesser burden to the colony. 

Should Government take a couple of hundred Malays about the end 
of October, they would be able to cut down a considerable extent of 
the forest' before the end of January; then their services might be 
dispensed with. In March or April fire could be set to the wood, then 
fully dried up ; this being done, the planting could commence. There 
is very little doubt but the clearing of the jungle will put an effectual 
stop to the Nicobar fever. When the English took Arracan from 
the Burmese, that place was for some years called the grave of the 
troops; but the jungle having been cleared up to a considciablc 
distance from the station, it is at present as healthy a place as 
any station in Bengal. 


\ 


( 84 ) 

Province Wellesley, on the western coast of the Malayan Peninsula, 
was so unhealthy twenty years ago, that a European would not venture 
in the interior without being almost certain of catching the jungly 
fever : but the province having been in part cleared of jungle, it is 
considered by Europeans to be as healthy as Penang Island. 

To colonize the Nicobars, a good manager is absolutely necessary, 
and much money must be expended at the commencement ; and as all 
depends on the beginning, so the Government should be prepared to 
supply the settlement with means adequate to the undertaking. Should 
the establishment be properly managed at first, there is no doubt but 
the Malays and Chinese would go and settle there with their families, 
and cultivate the ground on their own account, as they do in English 
settlements ; but on the contrary, were the Danish Government to go 
on slowly to the work, then the present settlement will be a failure, as 
was their first one at Nancowry. Nothing is to be expected from the 
natives ; they are too lazy; they will never work except by compulsion. 

The Nicobarians are averse to Europeans settling in their islands ; 
this I heard from the most respectable of the islanders, and but lately 
they gave a proof of it by making attempt on the Government establish¬ 
ment. The natives being without courage, and not having among them 
a person who could succeed in forming them into one compact body and 
direct their united efforts, little fear is to be entertained about their 
future desultory attacks. 

The sight of the S. W. entrance to Nancowry Harbour affords 
a magnificent spectacle, and inspires the soul with emotion and pleasure. 
The passage, which is about one hundred feet wide, has on each side a 
bare and rugged rock, having in the centre an opening much resembling 
the side gates of a citadel; these rocks lie adjacent to the hills rising 
from two to three hundred feet above the level of the sea, and are covered 
with a fine and evergreen vegetation. On entering the harbour, which 
appears as a large basin, the eye meets with some hamlets surrounded 
by cocoanut and betelnut trees; many of the houses are built like the 
Malay huts, and some have the shape of beehives. The .whole circum¬ 
ference of the harbour is lined with hills varying in shape, size, and 
height: some rising in. the form of inclined planes, some towering 
perpendicularly, and some having several escarpments ; these hills, from 
four to five hundred feet high, are covered with luxuriant vegetation. 
In vain the eye seeks for cultivated ground to embellish the scenery; 
nothing is to be seen but the savage grandeur of a vigorous vegetation, 
which characterises this part of the world. The harbour communicates 
with the sea by another entrance towards the east, which is the general 
passage for vessels to get in : there stands a village called Malacca; 
when vessels anchor close to it, both of the passages may be seen. 

The inhabitants of this village, which has ten or twelve houses, are 
far from making a favorable impression on the visitor. By their features 
the Nancowry people resemble the Malays so much that they appear to 
have some of the Malay blood in their veins, and there is no doubt that, 


( 85 ) 


if tliey rightly deserve to be considered as the wickedest amongst all the 
inhabitants of the group, it is owing chiefly to their frequent intercourse 
with the Malays. Some days previous to my arrival at Malacca, a young 
East Indian, William Goldsmith, who had resided there several years, 
died in that village. On enquiring about the particulars of his death, I 
was far from being satisfied with their contradictory, and, in all respects, 
unsatisfactory answers. This young man must have known a great deal 
about the doings of the natives : it is not, therefore, improbable that his 
death had been hastened by the suspicious islanders who feared he might 
make known their mischievous deeds. In the same village an African 
Christian, named John, who speaks tolerable Portuguese, and was 
employed as gunner by the Danes when they were in that island, came 
on board, dressed with a miserable rag which the natives wear around 
their loins; he had for a neckcloth a fine pantaloon, which he received 
a few days before from one of the Danish Officers. I put several 
questions to him concerning the inhabitants, but in vain; he only told me 
that the natives were very good, with the exception of the inhabitants 
of the False Harbour. 

The first Danish settlement was at Carmorta, opposite to the 
village of Malacca; the remains of a few brick-houses may be seen 
still on a rising ground. I do not think that the spot was well chosen 
for an European settlement, the harbour being surrounded on every side 
by hills with the exception of the two entrances. This site must have 
proved unhealthy to the settlers; the low ground is very sandy, and 
the soil appears to be inferior to that of Nicobar. 

Terressa Island appears to be ill-adapted to be the head-quarters 
of a colony; the south of the island being an open place without 
a harbour, is too much exposed to be a safe anchorage; the surf 
is tremendous, and the only place for landing is a small passage 
amongst sweeps. The breakers in the N. E. monsoon are also terrific. 
The northern part of the island is partly protected by Bompoka, a 
small island, distant two miles from Terressa, the hills of which rise 
suddenly from the beach ; but that side being exposed to an easterly 
"ale, the anchorage is not safe. The low ground of Terressa is very 
sandy, and although the hills are composed of red clay, they are 
covered in part by a coarse grass called lalang , and the vegetation does 
not appear to be so strong as in some other islands. Lackshee is the 
largest village in the island : it is situated towards the south, and con¬ 
tains seventeen huts, numbering one hundred and four persons. It is 
in that village that the French Missionaries dwelt, living in a native hut. 
The islanders would not allow them to build a house, although they 
had brought the materials from Penang, being under the ridiculous 
impression that, if a house were built different from theirs, they^ would 
all inevitably die. The Car-Nicobarians have not those prejudices, 
having allowed the Missionaries to build a house in 1836 in any shape 
they thought proper. 

The Missionaries entertained at first great hopes of converting the 
natives; the islanders visited their houses frequently, and though 
they did not appear to take much interest in their instructions, it was 


I 86 ) 


thought that this might be attributed rather to the unsteadiness of 
their character than to any determined aversion to their becoming 
Christians. 

The priests, on becoming better acquainted with their character, 
found that the trifles they had brought with them to the Nicobars were 
partly the cause of the seeming affection shown to them at the 
beginning. A school was opened by the Missionaries; as children 
do what they please, and parents having no control over them, the 
school was attended only by a few, and that for a very short time, so 
that not a single boy could derive any benefit from it. 

The Jesuits, about two hundred years ago, were the first who 
brought to those islanders the light of the Gospel : their exertions 
were crowned with success at Car-Nicobar, but these Missionaries, 
being anxious to give the same benefit to the other islands, went 
thither on that purpose. Their zeal was rewarded with the crown of 
martyrdom. The neophytes being left to themselves fell again into 
their former Paganism. 

In the beginning of this century, an Italian clergyman was sent 
from Rangoon to Car-Nicobar; his zeal, charity, and simplicity of 
manner in his living, gained him the hearts of the natives; several 
of them w r ere baptized ; and there is very little doubt that the whole 
island would have been converted had he not caught the fever, in con¬ 
sequence of which he had to return to Rangoon, where he died shortly 
after his arrival. 

In 1835, two French clergymen were sent by the Bishop of the 
Straits to the same island. The natives were shy at first, but, after a 
few days of intercourse, they showed a more friendly disposition, and 
allowed them to build a house. The Missionaries found that their 
frequent communication with foreigners was far from having improved 
their manners ; they were no more that simple, innocent and harm¬ 
less people as they were formerly represented to be. When the natives 
became more acquainted with the Missionaries, they paid them frequent 
visits, bringing with them trifling presents, such as yams, fowls, &c.; 
some of them being anxious to learn the Christian religion, went every 
evening to their house to be instructed. After a few months’ residence 
there, the priests had gained so much the affection of the people that 
their house was crowded every day, and they were permitted to visit 
all the parts of the island without excepting even their inland establish¬ 
ments, where they keep their most valuable articles, a privilege which 
had never hitherto been granted to any foreigner. Everything went 
on prosperously, until the arrival of a Cholia vessel, whose NaJcoda, by 
misrepresenting the character of the priests, withdrew from them the 
confidence of the natives. He told them that the Missionaries were 
English spies sent there for the purpose of enquiring into the produce 
of the country, and that, in consequence of the information furnished 
by them, that Government would soon take possession of their islands. 
The Nicobarians having given credit to this tale, would hold no more 
communication with them, nor sell them any provisions. Two of the 


( 87 ) 


natives who continued faithful to the Missionaries told them that the 
people were so exasperated against them on account of these false 
reports that, if they remained any longer, there was no doubt but they 
would become victims to their rage. As the Missionaries could not 
succeed in convincing the islanders of the untruth of the report, and 
seeing that any further stay among them was useless, they quitted 
the place, having remained in the island about a year. It is impossible 
to form an adequate idea of the hardships which the Missionaries under¬ 
went during their stay in the Nicobar Island. They were deprived 
of every comfort of life; their food frequently consisted of nothing 
but cocoanuts and yams. The Rev. Mr. Lacrampe, who spent the 
S. W. monsoon at Chow^ry, had no rice to eat during his stay, and had 
it not been for a native, who brought him one yam every other day, and 
which he was obliged to share with a servant boy, he would have 
starved. This gentleman being attacked with fever, cocoanut-water 
was the only drink he could procure to quench his burning thirst. The 
Hev. Messrs. Chopard and Borie, soon after their arrival, were taken 
ill at Terressa, and so seriously, that they could not render each 
other assistance : both were lying on mats in the same place without 
remedy, and receiving no assistance from the natives, but the hand of 
Him who had guided their steps in that foreign land, supported them 
amidst such trying afflictions. 

At last Mr. Borie, though of a strong constitution, fell a victim to 
repeated attacks of fever. On that very day, in the evening, Rev. 
Mr. Chopard was so very ill that he was not at first aware of the death 
of his companion. On the following morning, having recovered his 
senses, he then only found that his friend was but a corpse lying by 
his side. On the same evening the natives removed the mortal re¬ 
mains to the grave they had prepared ; and he, though scarcely able 
to creep along, attended the funeral. A worldly-minded person might 
mistake this pure zeal of the Missionaries for blind fanaticism; but 
their conduct cannot but be admired and praised when we consider and 
reflect on the fact that these Missionaries were led by no possible 
earthly motives, but guided solely by the earnest desire of making 
known the saving truths of the Gospel to their fellow-creatures. No¬ 
thing but a belief grounded on the strongest evidence, and deeply 
rooted in their souls, would have led them to the field of their labors, 
and supported them through the severest trials. 

Chowrv Island, seen from the east, presents a rugged and abrupt 
rock, resembling the walls of a citadel or old castle. The other part 
of the island is flat. Although cocoanut trees grow well there, the 
quantity is not sufficient for the support of the inhabitants, in con¬ 
sequence of which many are obliged to proceed to other islands. The 
emigrants being generally men, it follows that the female sex are more 
numerous; I suppose this is the cause why the privilege of having 
several wives is allowed in that island. No fresh water is to be had at 
C ho wry, the inhabitants, therefore, have no other drink but cocoanut- 
water. Vessels or boats touch seldom at Chowry, because there is no 
safe place of anchorage, in consequence of which the natives are the 


( 88 ) 


poorest among the Nicobarians; and when they have to buy or sell 
any articles, they go to the other islands where the vessels are lying. 

In all the group of the Nicobars are found, more or less, birds 
nests, trepang, ambergris, and tortoise-shells. The first vessel that 
touches there, when the S. W. monsoon is over, might make good bar¬ 
gains with the natives, provided the purchasers be well acquainted with 
the quality of the articles brought to them. 

The Collocalia fuciphaga is smaller than the common swallow, 
brown above, and whitish below. The nest is a whitish gelatinous 
substance, arranged in layers and secreted by the salivary glands of 
that species of swift. These birds, common in the Archipelago of 
Mergui, the Nicobars, &c., build their nests in the cavity of the rocks, 
where it is most difficult and perilous to have access. The nests are of 
six qualities; the first, of fine whitish color, is obtained by taking the 
nest before the swift has laid its eggs.. This quality is sold at Penang 
from 40 to 50 dollars the katty. The second quality, of a brownish 
color, is obtained by taking the nest when the bird has laid her eggs. 
It is sold at Penang at from 20 to 30 dollars the katty. The third 
quality is of a dark color, mixed with blood and feathers; it is obtained 
by taking the nest when the young birds have flown; the price of 
this sort is very low. The Chinese say that when the nest is taken 
before it is completed, the swift makes another but of an inferior 
quality, and it appears that the bird exhausts itself in building the 
second, the next being spotted with blood. The manner in which 
the Chinese prepare the nest is to steep it in water during one night; 
then with great trouble they clean it; this being done, they boil it in 
water, to which they have added some sugar-candy, till the whole forms 
a jelly: one nest prepared in this manner is sufficient for one person. 

Birds* nests being very dear, the wealthy Chinamen only can enjoy 
this delicacy. The rich opium-smokers take in the morning a cup of 
it for the purpose of refreshing and strengthening their debilitated 
frames. Persons attacked by consumption are advised by the Chinese 
physicians to take these nests; they prescribe the same to those who 
are reduced by a protracted illness; and I have seen several persons 
who, having made use of this remedy, declared that they found a tem¬ 
porary relief from this refreshing and nourishing food. 

Formerly, both Malays and Burmese procured at the Andamans 
a considerable quantity of these nests : collecting them themselves, or 
receiving them from the islanders in exchange for their tobacco, &c. 
I was told by an old Caffrey, who is still living, that, when young, he 
had been several times at the Andamans; that the inhabitants were 
then a harmless people; that they brought on board trepang , birds* nests, 
&c., taking in exchange several articles. The above person attributed 
the change in their manners to the misconduct of some Mala}^s and 
Burmese, who, taking advantage of the time in which the natives were 
on board their vessels, tied them up and carried them off as slaves. It 
is a fact that several persons, at different times, have been brought to 
Rangoon as well as to Penang. How could it be expected that the 


( 89 ) 


natives, after sucli treatment, would keep the least intercourse with 
foreigners ? At present their antipathy to strangers has risen to sucli 
a degree that it is most dangerous to approach their shores. It is said 
that the Andaman people are cannibals; but the assertion is hitherto 
destitute of unquestionable proof; and it would appear rather strange 
that a people, who are reported to have been harmless 40 or 50 years 
ago, could have fallen into such a state of barbarism in so short a time. 
Be that as it may, it is certain that peaceful persons who have called 
at their island to procure a supply of water, have been murdered by 
the natives without provocation. 

Ambergris is found in all the group of the Nicobars; and some 
years in such quantities that this article is scarcely of any value in these 
islands. In the various islands I visited, the natives brought me 
ambergris for sale; but its having been mixed with the wax of a small 
bee, which establishes itself in the trunk of decayed trees, it was of a 
very inferior quality. The genuine ambergris is sold very dear at Penang. 
The Chinese and Burmese use it for medicinal purposes. 

The trepang , or biche-de-mer, is a leech-like animal, from fifteen to 
twenty inches long to four or five inches broad. Some are of a reddish- 
brown, and some of a dark-brown color. These animals lie in the sand or 
coral rocks without showing any appearance of animation. The Malays 
have two ways to catch them, first by spearing, and second, when the 
water is not too deep, by diving and taking them with their hands. The 
Malays are, I think, the only people who prepare the trepang. They start 
for the Nicobar Islands in November and December, and remain there till 
the end of April. The way of preparing these leeches for the market is 
to boil and dry them in the sun or at the fire; they are then packed up 
with lime, brought to Penang, and sold to the Chinamen, who are the 
only people, I think, fond of that delicacy. The price varies according 
to the quality; some trepangs are sold at the rate of 30 dollars per picul, 
some at a lower price. The Chinese alone have the skill to find out a 
difference between the various kinds of trepangs. A Malay boat made 
last year 1,500 dollars by merely collecting trepangs. 

Having been in the different islands for a short period of time only, 
I could not ascertain what are the different species of trees growing 
there; blit judging by those I saw, I think they are, with a few ex¬ 
ceptions, of the same species as those growing at Penang; the dammer 
tree particularly is very common. The Overseer employed by the Danes 
at Little Nicobar says that teak is found on the island, but I am inclined 
to believe that it is a mistake. 

The soil on the sea-shore of the Nicobars is sand, coral, lime, and 
vegetable mould, more or less thick. The hills are red clay, as the 
Penang hills; the rocks are limestone, sandstone, clay, and slate. As 
rain seldom falls in the months of December, January, February, and 
March, I do not know how far the plantation of spices would succeed. 

When at Nicobar, I collected different species of birds which were 
sent to the Calcutta Museum. I saw at Katchall and at Little 

12 


Nicobar monkeys of the species Macacus cynomolgus. The natives told 
me that several species of snakes were found in the island, some being* 
very venomous. The boa constrictor is found also in the islands, parti¬ 
cularly at Terressa. 

The shells which I collected were the following :—Ammonites 
virginea , conns generalis, cyprcea, exanthema , cassidaria chiasphoras, 
ceritheum, murex tenuispina , pteroceras Scorpio , anodon dipsus , cardita 
caliculata . 


Before concluding this notice, I beg to return my most sincere 
thanks to Captain R. Ashland, commanding the Danish Steamer Ganges , 
for having afforded me, with the utmost kindness, the means of visiting 
several of the islands above-mentioned, as also for the unceasing kindness 
showed to me when on board of his vessel, both by him and his officers. 
I was seventeen days in the group, and I am indebted for the foregoing 
detailed accounts partly to the natives themselves, but chiefly to the Rev. 
Mr. Lacrampe, who accompanied me to the Nicobar Islands. As this 
clergyman had previously resided for more than one year on these 
islands, and was tolerably well acquainted with the language of the 
natives, I have unhesitatingly relied on the information he so readily 
gave me. 

It is as well to add that, in mentioning the harbours, their entrance, 
&c., I may have mistaken with regard to their exact position, but I beg 
the reader to bear in mind that I am not a seaman, and therefore no one 
can expect from me that exactness in such matters which can be 
furnished but by persons brought up to that profession, and who are 
supplied with the requisite instruments. 


Small Vocabulary of the Nancowry Language. 


Inconkay 

... Man. 

Maial 

Young man. 

Ungcan 

... Woman. 

Uiali 

... Girl. 

Incam 

... Wife. 

Koi 

... Head. 

Inkoi 

... Hair. 

Nan 

... Ear. 

Moi 

... Nose. 

Lail 

... Forehead. 

Olmat 

... Eyes. 

Maknoey 

... Lips. 

Kanap 

... Teeth. 

Kealatat 

... Tongue. 

Kkaha 

... Moon. 

Han 

... Sun. 

Lomalay 

... Star. 

Hnee 

... House. 

HaLoha 

... Fire. 


Inkman 

• • • 

Chin. 

Boyalkiah 

• • • 

Beard. 

Kolalah 

• t • 

Neck. 

Uhian 

• • • 

Belly. 

Kanatlioi 

• • • 

Hand. 

Bhoolo 

• • • 

Thigh. 

Anhnan 

• • • 

Leg. 

Hupkala 

• • • 

Foot. 

Kahmala 

• • • 

Sea. 

Rak 

• • • 

Water. 

Aros 

• • « 

Rice. 

Gnkuat 

• • • 

Cocoanut. 

Ivampei 

• • • 

Ambergris. 

Akai 

% • % 

Bird’s nest. 

Ilookgnok 

% % % 

Eat. 

Phim 

• • • 

Drink. 

Ahochoo 

• • • 

Go. 

Kathara 

% « • 

Come. 


Numerals. 


Hing 

... One. 

Halioo 

... Two. 

Lcoha 

... Three 

Fuan 

... Four. 

Tbanin 

... Five. 

Thafocl 

... Six. 


Hakiat 

... Seven. 

Infuan 

... Eight. 

Inhatta 

... Nine. 

Lam 

... Ten. 

Hingian 

... Eleven. 

Loohagain 

... Twelve, 












( 91 ) 


Notes on the Fauna of the Nicobar Islands. — By E. Blyth, Esq., 
Curator of the Museum of the Asiatic Society. 

The vertebrated fauna of the Nicobars, to judge from the collection 
with which Mr. Barbe has favored the Society, and also from a nearly 
parallel series of specimens collected and presented to the Society by 
Captain Lewis., would seem to be remarkable for the paucity of terrene 
species; while a large proportion of such as do occur are apparently 
peculiar to the locality. 

Mammalia. 

Of this class,, I have examined four species only, of which three 
are bats. 

Macacus cynomolgus : which is also an inhabitant of the Tenasserim 
Provinces and Malayan Peninsula, but in Arracan is represented by the 
allied M. carbonarius. I have been presented with two living specimens 
from the Island of Timor, which do not appear to differ from those of 
Malacca; the species being everywhere subject to some individual 
variation. 

Pteropus edulis: Pt. javanicus, Horsf., &c., &c. Three specimens 
are alike remarkable for having the throat and front of the neck black, 
the head blackish, the nape dull reddish-brown, the back shining black, 
flanks and vent dull black, and the rest of the under-parts dull reddish- 
brown, much paler in the centre. 

Cynopterus mar,ghiatus , (B. Ham.) Inhabits India generally, as also 
the countries eastward of the Bay of Bengal to Malacca, and the Great 
Eastern Archipelago. 

Ripposideros murinus , (Elliot) : vide J. A. S. XIII, 489. Identical 
with specimens from Southern India, and from the Malayan Peninsula. 

In addition to the above, Captain Lewis informed me of a large 
monkey, evidently a Presbytis (vel Semnopithecus ) from his description, 
of which he .vainly attempted to obtain specimens, from its remarkable 
wildness; also of a large squirrel, distinct from any in the Society's 
Museum, and therefore probably new, considering the locality. 

Captain Lewis likewise obtained, in the immediate vicinity of the 
Nicobars, an example of Delphinorhynchfiis rostratus , F. Cuv., as identi¬ 
fied from its skull which he has presented to the Society, and which 
entirely accords with that of a specimen captured in the Bed Sea. 

Sus .—The Nicobarian pigs appeared to have been derived from 
the Chinese domestic species, turned loose upon some of the islands.* 

It can scarcely be doubted, however, that several additional species 
of mammalia remain to be discovered, as particularly bats with probably 
more squirrels, and at least two or three species of small carnivora, 
and perhaps insectivora. 

* j t ma y i, c here remarked that Captain Lewis has himself turned a pair of Cervus a,us 
loose iu a locality where they are likely to propagate. 






( 92 ) 


Ayes. 

Paloeornis caniceps , nobis, ante pp. 23, 51. Captain Lewis obtained 
a living specimen of this bird, with the wings and tail mutilated by its 
native captor. Dr. Cantor has another and very fine specimen, evidently 
a female, with black beak, from the Malayan Peninsula. 

P. erythrogenys, nobis, ante p. 23. Specimens of this bird were 
procured both by Mr. Barbe and by Captain Lewis; and a living male 
was given by the latter gentleman to Mr. Halfhyde, of the Preventive 
Service, who, when it died, presented it to the Society. This individual 
was in far more beautiful plumage than the specimens previously exa¬ 
mined ; it measured eighteen inches and a half in length, of which the 
middle tail-feathers were ten and a half; expanse of wings twenty-two 
inches and a half; and closed wing seven inches and five-eighths : 
irides dull greyish. The cheeks and ear-coverts continued forward to 
the beak, are of a beautifully bright cherry-red, devoid of the lake or 
“ peachblossom'' tinge prevailing on the same parts of P. malaccensis, 
and which, in the latter species, is continued round the nape : the crown 
also is not of the deep emerald-green of that of P. malaccensis ; the 
occiput and nape incline to light straw-yellow; and there is a well 
defined black line from the nostril to the eye; all which combine, with 
its superior size, and other minutise that might be pointed out, as the 
absence of red above the ear-coverts, to distinguish it from P. malaccensis. 
Indeed, it holds much the same relationship towards that species, which 
P. alexandri does towards P. torquatus ; and P. caniceps stands in the 
same position towards P. pondicerianus ; P. sc/iisticeps, also, towards 
P. cyanocephalus .—P. erythrogenys, so far as we are yet aware, is peculiar 
to the Nicobar Islands, where it occurs abundantly. 

Balaca seloputo , (Horsfield) : Strix pagodarum, Tern. Captain 
Lewis informed me of a very beautiful owl which he obtained, but the 
specimen was lost through the carelessness of a servant : he could not 
recognise the species among the fine collection of owls in the Society's 
Museum, but identified it positively from a Malayan specimen belonging 
to Dr. Cantor. The present species has been much confounded with its 
Indian representative; which latter has been referred, not very satisfac¬ 
torily, to Strix sinensis, Lath. A very large white eagle was also shot 
by Captain Lewis, but he coaid not succeed in penetrating the very dense 
jungle into which it fell : this \?as probably Blagrus dimidiatus, (Raffles.) 
Todiramphus occipitalis, nobis, ante pp. 23, 51. Peculiar, so far as 
has been yet observed, to the Nicobars. 

T. co/laris, (Scopoli and Swainson) : Alcedo chlorocephala, Gmelin. 
Nicobarian specimens of this bird are remarkably brilliant, with much 
less of the green tinge than usual upon the crown and back. 

Merops philippinensis. Found also throughout India, and in the 
Malayan Peninsula and Archipelago. 

Collocalia j'uciphaga, (Thunberg) vide p. 22, ante. 

Gracula javanensis, vide p. 31, ante. Inhabits the southern 
islands only. 


( 93 ) 

Sturnia erythropygia , nobis, ante, p. 34. Hitherto observed only 
upon the islands. 

Calornis affinis, A. Hay, ante p. 36. Upon the average this bird 
is less brightly glossed than C. cantor, of the Malayan Peninsula and 
Archipelago. It was observed by Captain Lewis in the central and 
southern islands. 

Nectarinia pectoralis, Horsfield; N. eximia , Temminck (nec 
Horsfield.) Inhabits also the Malayan Peninsula and Java, but in the 
Tenasseiim Provinces and in Arracan is represented by the allied 
N. flammaxillaris, nobis. 

Zosterops palpebrosus , (Tem) : Sylvia annulosa , var. A. Swainson. 
This species inhabits the hilly parts of India, from the Himalaya to Ceylon 
inclusive, and also those of Arracan and Tenasserim : but I have never 
seen it from the Malayan Peninsula, and it is represented in Java and 
the Philippines by Z. flavus, the Dicceum flavum, Horsfield. The specimen 
described as Z. nicobaricus, J. A. S. XIY, 563, would seem to be merely 
the young ; though I have never seen an Indian specimen in correspond¬ 
ing plumage. The Society has, however, subsequently received Nico- 
barian specimens in the ordinary dress of Z. palpebrosus. 

Oriolus macrourus , nobis, ante p. 46. A very distinct species, 
observed only in the central islands. I may here remark that, since my 
synopsis of this genus was written ( loc . cit.), I have discovered that 
females of 0. melanocephalus very commonly assume the plumage 
which is generally thought to be characteristic of the adult male; and 
I greatly suspect that the same obtains in the various other species 
of Oriole. 

Hypsipeies virescens , nobis, vide p. 51. ante. Inhabits the central 
islands. 

Geocichla innotata , nobis, MS. (described in the sequel to my 
Notices and Descriptions of New Birds) . Both Mr. Barbe and Captain 
Lewis procured what I infer to be a female of this well marked species; 
and Dr. Cantor's Malayan collection contains what I incline to regard 
as the male. The coloring is considerably more intense than in 
G. citrina, and there is no white upon the wing-coverts; the presumed 
female only has a white throat, and the scapularies and interscapularies 
are olivaceous. 

Dicrurus balicassius, (Lin.) A .specimen of this common Malayan 
species was obtained at sea by Captain Lewis when nearing one of the 
islands. 

Techitrea —? A species of Paradise Flycatcher, or Shah Bulbul 
of the natives of India, was observed but not obtained by Captain Lewis. 

Myiayra coerulea (Yieillot.) Common. 

t 

Treron chloropelera, nobis, XIY., 853. A very distinct species, 
hitherto only observed upon the southern islands. 


( M ) 


Carpophaga sylvatica, (Tickell.) Nicobarian specimens seem in¬ 
variably to differ from those obtained throughout the eastern coast of the 
Bay of Bengal (from Arracan to the Straits) , and also from Java, Sylhet, 
Assam, &c., all of which are quite similar, in the green of the upper- 
parts being wholly unmixed with bronze, and the ash-grey of the head, 
neck, and under-parts having no tinge whatever of vinaceous; the 
primaries also are devoid of the grey tinge; and the lower tail-coverts are 
much less deeply tinctured with dark vinaceous. Hence the ensemble, 
when several specimens of each are examined together, is conspicuously 
different. This species occurs in the central group of islands. 

C. Myristicivora (Scopoli) : Columba alba, Gm: C. lit oralis, Tern. 
Both this and the preceding species are very common. 

Calcenas nicobarica. Found also in the Andaman and Cocos Isles, 
in the Mergui Archipelago (according to Heifer), and in the Malayan 
Peninsula. Two young ones procured by Captain Lewis have the tail 
green-glossed black, whereas in adults the tail is pure white. The 
elongated nuchal hackles do not exist in the garb of juvenility. 

Chalcophaps indicns. This differs from the Indian race in the 
deeper ash-color of the nape and bluer vinaceous hue of the under-parts ; 
while the bands on the rump (so conspicuous in the Indian bird, and also 
in its Australian near ally, Ch. chrysochloros) are very indistinct. It 
abounds in the central islands. 

Macropygia rufipennis, nobis, n. s. Most closely allied to 

M. phasianella of Australia, but rather smaller in all its proportions and best 
distinguished by the uniform bright rufous hue of the entire under-surface 
of the wings, which occupies the whole of each feather except towards its 
tip. The primaries are also externally somewhat broadly margined with 
the same. There is really no other difference : but another species, 
M. amboinensis, of Java and the Moluccas, differs only from 

M. phasianella in its much inferior size. Specimens of all three 
are in the Society's Museum, and there can be no doubt of 

their distinctness. I have also a living specimen of M. phasianella, 
caught at sea about sixty miles from the Australian coast. It is 

kept in an aviary with a variety of other birds, and prefers plantain 
to any other food: so eager is it for this fruit, that of a morning 
it will alight on a bunch of plantains as the latter is carried into 
the aviary, and when the plantains are hung up, it combats with 
the different species of hurrials (TreronJ and other birds, in a singular 
manner, to obtain undisturbed possession of the fruit. Its manner is to 
hover round them, and not exactly to strike with its feet, but to push 
with them the intruder off its perch, and this it will sometimes repeat 
two or three times in succession without alighting. It never descends 
to the ground, except to feed on fruit that may be lying there; yet, 
though so fond of this aliment, it was fed, when on board ship, exclu¬ 
sively on maize, and in default of fruit will thrive on rice and other grain. 
This bird is chiefly active in the morning and evening, and scarcely 


( 95 ) 


moves from its perch during the day. Its coo is hoarse, deep, and sub¬ 
dued, a sort of croaking sound, only audible when very near, and resem¬ 
bling f o-o-o-o-alF repeated several times successively.* M. rufipennis 
was observed only in the Southern Nicobars. 

Turtur suratensis (Lath) Columba tigrina , Temminck. Common to 
India and the Malayan Peninsula and Archipelago. 

Megapodius nicobariensis, nobis, ante p. 52. Of this very interest¬ 
ing bird. Captain Lewis obtained the egg and chick, and Mr. Barbe an 
adult pair, with also two eggs, which latter are noticed in my descrip¬ 
tion of the species. That procured by Captain Lewis was uniformly 
tinged with reddish-brown, which still further bears out Mr. GoukPs 
description of M. tumulus of Northern Australia, the eggs of which he 
describes to vary somewhat in hue, according to the soil in which they 
are deposited.! 

Demigretta concolor , nobis, n. s. This demi-egret was long ago 
forwarded from Arracan by Captains Pliayre and Abbott, and I am 
assured that it also occurs in Assam. In the Central Nicobars it would 
seem to be not uncommon. From D. ash a, (Sykes) it is readily distin¬ 
guished by its shorter legs; the tarse measuring but three inches instead 
of three and three-quarters : wing eleven inches, or eleven and a half, 
in adults; about an inch shorter in the young: bill to forehead three 
inches and a half, and to gape four and a quarter: middle toe aud claws 
two inches and three-eighths, the claws short and much curved. Color 
uniform dark slaty throughout; some specimens having a white line on 
the chin and throat. Adults have narrow lengthened plumes on the 
back and breast, similar to those of Ardea cinerea : the occipital plumes 
also are somewhat lengthened, as in herons generally; but I have seen 
no defined occipital crest, and doubt its ever possessing one. Beak 
mingled dusky and dull yellowish; and the legs appear to have been 
olive-green. 

Nycticorax griseus (Lin) : Ardea nycticorax , L. 

Strepsilas interpres , (Lin.) Common along the coasts of the Bay 
of Bengal; and the Society has received a specimen from the Mauritius. 
One of the most universally distributed of birds. 

Totanus hypoleucos (Lin.) Excessively numerous in the Bengal 
Soonderbuns: and the Society has also received it from Cliusan. Of 
very general distribution throughout Europe and Asia. 

Thalasseus bengalensis (Lesson). Nearly allied to Sterna velox and 
St. affinis of Ruppell (nee St. affmis, Horsf.) to which it would seem in¬ 
termediate. St. cristata , Sw. (nee Stephens), is also closely allied, but 

* This bird is since dead; its plantain diet by no means agreeing- with it so well as the 
maize on which it was kept formerly. As for its mode of fighting, I lately saw a pair of 
doves (Turtur suratensis) on the ground, which repeatedly flew up and attacked each other 
much in the same way. 

f Mr. Barbe informs me that this bird is common on all the islands; but that he never 
saw it perch, as Mr. Gould represents M. tumulus to do, in the back-ground of his plate 
The pair he shot were together upon a hillock, and upon his shooting one, the other did 
not make ofl‘, upon which he killed it with his second barrel. 




remarkable for its very pale color. From the European Th^ do?/sit, 
(Pen.) which it also greatly resembles, this species differs in having the 
bill wholly yellow, and the tail uniform grey with the back. Another 
allied species, which was procured by the late Dr. Heifer in the Penas- 
serim Provinces, agrees with the description of Stevnci poliocerca , Gould, 
and is perhaps the St. cristata of Stephens. Th. bengalensis is not un¬ 
common in the Bay of Bengal. 

Sterna (?) melanauchen , Tern.; figured in GoukPs Birds of Aus¬ 
tralia. This species breeds abundantly in the Nicobars. 

Another species, common in the Bay, is the Melanosterna anasthoetus, 
(Scopoli), v. Sterna panaya, Lath., St. infuscata , Licht., and St. antarc - 
tica, Lesson : and allied to this is a species which is perhaps St. grisea 
of Horsfield, and which was obtained by Prof. Behn, of the Danish 
expedition, as he was approaching the mouth of the Hooglily. If new, 
I am enabled by the politeness of that naturalist to subjoin the accom¬ 
panying description of it.* Anous tenuirosiris, (Tern.) is also a marine 
species of Tern, which I have obtained in the Bengal Soonderbuns.j* 

Phaeton cethereus. The only Tropic-bird (or “ Bo^swTi-bird”) I 
have seen from the Bay of Bengal. Ph. candidus abounds near the 
Mauritius, and Ph. phceniCurus towards Australia. 

Pelicanus philippensis. The smaller Indian pelican which seems 
to be the predominating species throughout the Malay countries. 

It thus appears that 3£ of ascertained species of birds, procured 
either upon, or in the immediate vicinity of, the islands (which number 
includes Bulaca seloputo, Dicrurus balicassius, and Phaeton cethereus), 


* Hgdrochiledon grisea (? Horsfield): n. s. ? H. Marginata, nobis. Resembles IT. nigra 
in winter plumage, except in being much larger, and in having the nape (surrounding the 
black of the occiput) pure silky white, as are also the entire underparts, including the sides 
of the breast; the mantle is also much paler, and the tail more deeply forked and differently 
colored. Length, to end of middle tail-feathers, ten inches and a half, or to the outermost 
a foot; wing nine inches and a half; middle tail-feathers two and three quarters; bill to gape 
one and seven-eighths; tarse three quarters ; middle toe and claw an inch ; the webs of the toe 
more developed than in IT. nigra. Bill reddish-dusky, redder towards base of lower man¬ 
dible; the interior of the mouth apparently coral-orange; and legs, toes, and membranes, 
the same, with black claws. Color above pale ashy, with sullied whitish margins to the 
acapularies and wing-coverts; a defined blackish band, half an inch broad,, extends 
along the outside of the radius, bordering the upper-part of the wing anteriorly, as in 
the winter dress of If. nigra: crown and occiput black, embracing the orbital region: 
towards the forehead the feathers become gradually more deeply margined with white, 
and the forehead and entire under-parts are pure white, extending on the nape : the great 
alars are silvery-ash externally, except the first, which has its outer web, and half the 
breadth of its inner web, with the tip, black, tinged with ashy towards the tip and on 
the inner web; the extent of the dark ashy tip increases successively on the other 
primaries, the shorter of which have a narrow white border to their inner webs; while 
the secondaries are tipped externally with the same; the lesser coverts of the 
primaries, with the winglet, are mostly dusky; middle tail-feathers pale grey, with a 
whitish tip; the rest white on their inner webs, and successively darker till they become 
blackish on the outer: underneath the wings and tail appear margined externally with 
blackish-grey. 

f The Society’s specimen of this bird is not a very good one; and I can distinguish 
it neither from A. melanops nor A. leucocapillus, figured in Gould’s Birds of Australia. 



( 97 ) 


as many as eight are peculiar to the locality,—so far, of course, as 
has been hitherto ascertained; for it is likely that most of them inhabit 
also the northern part of Sumatra, and perhaps the Andamans, and the 
province of Mergui and its vicinity. These eight comprise several re¬ 
markable and conspicuous species, and are as follow :— Falceornis ery- 
throgenys, Todiramphus occipitalis , Sturnia erythropygia, Oriolus 
macrourus, Hypsipetes virescens, Treron chloroptera, Macropygia 
rufipennis , and Megapodius nicobariensis . 

Four others exist as varieties, more or less marked, of species met 
with elsewhere: viz., Todiramphus collaris, Collocalia fuciphaga, 
Carpophaga sylvatica, and Chalcophaps indicus. 

Of those which are not peculiar to the islands, 21 are known to 
occur in the Malayan Peninsula (including Faloeornis caniceps and 
Geocichla innotata, which were discovered in the two localities about 
simultaneously) ; and the remaining three inhabit Arracan, and probably 
Tenasserim—certainly as regards Zosterops palpebrosus, the others 
being Calornis affinis ,* and Demigretta concolor. It is probable, in¬ 
deed, that the whole 24 occur in the Malayan Peninsula, with also some 
of the remaining 8, which appear to have been hitherto observed only 
on the islands. 

Of the species found likewise in India, the majority are more or 
less aquatic, belonging chiefly to the zoology of the Bay and its 
vicinity; such is Todiramphus collaris, which abounds in the Bengal 
Soonderbuns, and along the whole eastern shore of the Bay, but is very 
rare on the Coromandel Coast of the Peninsula: but Merops philippi- 
nensis, Zosterops palpebrosus, Myiagra ccerulea, Chalcophaps indicus 
(Ind. var.), Turtur suratensis , and even Carpophaga sylvatica, f are inland 
species, which are pretty generally diffused, though the last is much 
more common in the countries eastward (as Assam, Sylhet, Arracan, 
and Tenasserim). Dicrurus balicassius I have only seen from Nepal, 
it being the Buchanga annectans of Mr. Hodgson : and the remaining 
species included in the Fauna Indica are Nycticorax griseus, Strepsilas 
interpres, Totanus hypoleucos, Thalasseus bengalensis, Fhaeton oethereus , 
and Felicanus philippensis. 

Hence the data supplied by the highly interesting ornithology of 
the Nicobars (so far as we have yet the means of judging) connect 
those islands with the Malayan zoological province, as their position 
on the map would indicate ; at the same time that they possess several 
peculiar and remarkable species not hitherto discovered on the neigh¬ 
bouring lands. 


* I have unfortunately retained for the Museum two Tenasserim specimens of Calornis 
not having suspected the distinctness of C. affinis from C. cantor, until Lord A. Hay 
called my attention to the fact. Calornis cantor is common at Penang ; and I may add that 
Mr^Barbe has just assured me that the Tenasserim species is C. cantor and not C. affinis. 

f The very small specimen mentioned in XIV, 857, proves to have been from the 
Neilgherries ; but whether the race of Southern India is constantly thus diminutive, I 
am not yet aware. 


13 




(' 08 ) 


Reptilia. 

My materials for illustrating 1 this class are rather scanty,, although 
it would appear that the Nicobars possess many species, more especially 
of Ophidia . 

Of the Testudinata , Mr. Barbe mentions two recognizable, portions 
of both of which were brought by Captain Lewis, viz :— 

Chelonia virgata, the edible turtle of the Bay of Bengal, and 
ch. imbricata, the “ tortoise-shell” turtle. 

Of the Sauria, Captain Lewis collected four species: 

Monitor salvator , (Laurent) : Tupinambis bivittatus, Kuhl; Varanus 
bivittatus, Dumeril and Biborn, Hist, des Reptiles, III, 486. 

M. nebulosus, Gray: Varanus nebulosus , Dum. and Bibr., Hist, 
des Reptiles III, 483. 

Both of these species inhabit the Malayan Peninsula, and the first 
occurs abundantly in Lower Bengal. According to Messrs. Dumeril 
and Bibron, the second also was sent from Bengal by Mr. Belanger; but 
I have never succeeded in obtaining an Indian specimen. 

Calotes ophiomachus , (Merrem,) Dum. and Bibr., Hist, des Reptiles 
IV, 482. This agrees sufficiently well with the description cited, save 
that the terminal four-fifths of the extremely long tail are white, 
instead of being’ annulated with white. I have no Indian specimen 
with which to compare it. If truly identical with the Indian reptile, the 
analogy of other Nicobarian species that occur also in India renders it 
probable that it likewise inhabits the mainland forming the eastern shore 
of the Bay.* 

C. mystaceus , Dum. and Bibr., Hist, des Reptiles IV, 408 The 
authors cited found this species upon a single specimen received from 
Burmah. One from the Nicobars accords with their description in all res¬ 
pects as regards structure; but the specific name does not apply. As far 
as can be judged from the example before me (preserved in spirit), the 
brilliant colors of which are now little more than indicated, it would seem 
that the entire head and throat, if not also several of the anterior dorsal 
spines, had been bright red, or the throat and lower jaw may perhaps 
have been orange-red: while the body has evidently been vivid green : 
colors which probably depend partly on season, over and above the 
changeableness of hue which these reptiles exhibit at all seasons. The 
Nicobarian specimen is a male, in apparently the full brilliancy of its 
coloring, indicative of the season of propagation, when no doubt it 
had the mishap to be secured. 


Of the Ophidia, I can only enumerate three species— 

Python (probably P. Schneideri) . This was observed both by Mr. 
Barbe and Captain Lewis; but I have seen no specimen. 


* Referring to Merrem’s figure, Hist. Nat. des Reptiles TIT, 36f, 
considering the Nicobarian species to be the same. 


I cannot hesitate 




/ 


( 99 ) - 

Trigonocephalus caniori, nobis, n. s. A typical member of this 
genus, having 169 abdominal plates, and 214 subcaudal scutelke; 
length of one specimen 30 inches. This large one was much injured 
when it was killed, and appears to have shrunk considerably from drying 
before it was put into spirits ; from which causes it is not easy to describe 
its markings, but it seems to have been curiously blotched with red— 
which color is not observable in a young specimen 164 inches 
long. Both have a distinct lateral whitish line, bordering the 
abdominal scuta and ceasing at the vent. Scales slightly imbricated. 
The young appears to have been dull olive-green above, mottled through¬ 
out with a double series of dusky blotches, semi-alternately disposed, 
with smaller spots and blotches on the sides, below which occurs the 
whitish lateral line: underparts greyish, from a freckling of minute 
dusky specks on a pale ground : on the head the markings tend more 
or less to be obsolete; but a whitish band proceeds backward from 
below the eye, and in the young is continued upwards almost at a 
right angle, and there is also a whitish patch posterior to the broad 
angle of the jaws, but unconnected with the lateral line of the body. 
The adult appears to be further variegated above, by scattered white 
spots composed of one, two, or rarely three scales each. The young 
is proportionally much more slender than the adult, and the triangu¬ 
larity of its head is less strongly marked. 

Pefamydes platurus : having a much greater portion than usual 
of its tail banded; the bands diminishing to festoons anteriorly until 
they are gradually lost. 

The few Reptilia here enumerated, do not require any com¬ 
ment : three of them are marine species, viz ., the two turtles and 
the pelamycles; but the former are, I believe, more nearly connected 
with the islands by depositing their eggs upon the shores ol them. 

Pisces. 

The marine zoology of the Nicobars being probably that of the 
Bay of Bengal, it would scarcely be worth while here to supply a 
catalogue of well known inhabitants of the Bay, even if I possessed 
sufficient materials for the task. The fresh water species would possess 
more interest in the present instance; and of those I have not seen any, 
either vertebrate or invertebrate, or any land J}lollusca. Captain Lewis, 
on nearing the islands, took a flying fish, which is Eococetus commer- 
soni; and°in a native hut he found a rudely prepared skin of Balistes 
con spirillum, Schn. (.B. bicolor, Shaw) ; he obtained also a fresh speci¬ 
men of B. rectangulus, Selin, (v. medinilla, Quoy and Gaymard, and 
fasciatus of Shaw) : also a beautiful wholly green parrot-fish, allied to 
Sc or us gibbus, Ruppell, Cuv. and Yal. Hist. Poiss. XI\, 231, upon 
which Mr. Swainson founds his Chlorurus, History of Fishes, fyc., 
II, 227 (in Bar diner’s Cyclopedia). Captain Lewis brought also a 
few specimens, chiefly small fry, from the myriads which (like the 
Scarus last mentioned) resort to the coral-beds; and among these the 
Dascyllus aruanus, (L) Cuv. and Yal. Y, 325, would seem to be parti¬ 
cularly common. 



( 100 ) 


Lastly, lie procured three species of salt-water eels, which 1 have 
submitted to the inspection of Dr. McClelland, whose valuable labors on 
the very difficult group of apodal fishes require no eulogy from me; and 
that gentleman has favored me with the following result ol his 
examination of them :— 

“ Two of them are known species, I think, namely, Dalophis 
geometrica , (Ruppell,) Fishes of Northern Africa , pi. XXX, fig. 3, and 
Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. V 213.—and Thoe.rodoniis reticulata, McClelland, 
Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. Y. 216, and pi. VII., fig. 1. The third is, I think, 
a new species, of which the following will be a sufficient description :— 

(< Thcerodontis maculala, McClelland. Two rows of distinct dark 
spots on either side, of an oval or somewhat oblong rounded form, 
and placed transversely, the rows extending from the head to the caudal 
extremity : also a row of more elongated spots on either side of the 
dorsal and anal fins, parallel with the rays.— Obs. This species bears 
some resemblance to Faloplds tigrina, v. Murcena tigrina of Ruppell, 
Fishes of Northern Africa , pi. XXX, fig. 2; but is more robust, and the 
spots are without an areola as in that species, and differently placed.cc 

Inverteerata. 

The only terrene species pertaining to an invertebrate class, which 
I have yet seen from the Nicobars, is the common Scolopendra morsi - 
tans. Of marine species, Captain Lewis brought a Loligo, and various 
species of Testacea common in the Bay : also two species of Asterias, 
and specimens of Fungia patella, Tubipora musica, and a few other 
common corals. Of Crustacea, he preserved the claws of an extraordi¬ 
narily large specimen of the common edible crab of India* ( Lupa 
tranquebarica) , with examples of one of the species confounded under 
Matuta lunaris, and a small crab which accords perfectly with the figure 
and description of Grapsillus dentatus, Macleay, in Dr. A. Smith's 
Zoology of Southern Africa; also a Pagurus, and a fine specimen of Palin - 
urus ornatus, and one of Thenus orientalis, with a small Alpheus, and 
one or two other minute Falemonidoe which are probably undescribed. 

To Mr. Barbe, the Society is further indebted for numerous speci¬ 
mens of mammalia, birds, &c., from Penang, and from the Tenasserim 
Province of Ye; also from the interior of the Tipperah hills. Among 
the Tenasserim specimens are a new monkey (Presbytis humeralis, 
nobis), three new squirrels ( Sciurus chrysonotus, Sc. melanotus and 
Sc. Barbei, nobis,—the last being allied to Sc. insignis, M’Clellandii,&n<\ 
trilineatus), —fine specimens of Ampeliceps coronatus (p. 32, ante), 
Treran viridiformis (XIV, 849), and various other species of much 
interest, including several that had only previously been obtained further 
to the southward in the Malayan Peninsula and Islands.— Asiatic 
Society’s Journal . 



( c 
< < c 



( lul ) 


A short description of Car-Nicobar .— Bij G. Hamilton, Esq, 

The island, of which I propose to give a succinct account, is the 
northernmost of that cluster in the Bay of Bengal which goes by the 
name of the Nicobars. It is low, of a round figure, about forty miles in 
circumference, and appears at a distance as if entirely covered with trees; 
however, there are several well cleared and delightful spots upon it. 
The soil is a black kind of clay and marshy. It produces in great 
abundance, and with little care, most of the tropical fruits, such as pine¬ 
apples, plantains , papayas, cocoanuts, and areca-nuts ; also excellent yams, 
and a root called cachu. The only four-footed animals upon the island 
are hogs, dogs, large rats, and an animal of the lizard kind, but larger, 
called by the natives tolonqui ; these frequently carry off fowls and chickens. 
The only kind of poultry are hens, and those not in great plenty. There 
are abundance of snakes of many different kinds, and the inhabitants 
frequently die of their bites. The timber upon the island is of many 
sorts, in great plenty, and some of it remarkably large, affording excellent 
materials for building or repairing ships. 

The natives are low in stature but very well made, and surprisingly 
active and strong; they are copper-colored, and their features have a 
cast of the Malay,—quite the reverse of elegant. The women in parti¬ 
cular are extremely ugly. The men cut their hair short, and the women 
have their heads shaved quite bare, and wear no covering but a 
short petticoat, made of a sort of rush or dry grass, which reaches half¬ 
way down the thigh. This grass is not interwoven, but hangs round 
the person something like the thatching of a house. Such of them as 
have received presents of cloth petticoats from the ships, commonly tie 
them round immediately under the arms. The men wear nothing but a 
narrow strip of cloth about the middle, in which they wrap up their 
privities so tight that there hardly is any appearance of them. The ears 
of both sexes are pierced when young, and by squeezing into the holes 
lar»*e plugs of wood, or hanging heavy weights of shells, they contrive to 
render them wide and disagreeable to look at. They are naturally dis¬ 
posed to be good-humoured and gay, and are very fond of sitting at table 
with Europeans, where they eat everything that is set before them; 
and they eat most enormously. They do not care much for wine, but 
will drink bumpers of arrack as long as they can see. A great part of 
their time is spent in feasting and dancing. When a feast is held at any 
villa^o-e, every one that chooses goes uninvited, for they are utter strangers 
to ceremony. At those feasts they eat immense quantities of pork, 
which is their favourite food. Their hogs are remarkably fat, being fed 
upon the cocoanut kernel and sea-water; indeed, all their domestic 
animals, fowls, dogs, &c., are fed upon the same. They have likewise 
plenty of small sea fish which they strike very dexterously with lances, 
wading into the sea about knee-deep. They are sure of killing a very 
small fish at ten or twelve yards'* distance. They eat the pork almost 
raw, giving it only a hasty grill over a quick fire. They roast a fowl 
by running a piece of wood through it, by way of spit, and holding it 

! > * > 

» » 

) > > 




( 102 ) 



eating in their taste. They never drink water, only cocoanut-milk 
and a liquor called sour a, which oozes from the cocoanut tree after cut¬ 
ting off the young sprouts or flowers ; this they suffer to ferment before 
it is used, and then it is intoxicating, to which quality they add much 
by their method of drinking it, by sucking it slowly through a small 
straw. After eating, the young men and women, who are fancifully 
drest with leaves, go to dancing, and the old people surround them 
smoking tobacco and drinking soura. The dancers, while performing, 
sing some of their tunes which are far from wanting harmony, and to 
which they keep exact time. Of musical instruments they have only 
one kind, and that the simplest. It is a hollow bamboo about 2^ feet 
long and 3 inches in diameter, along the outside of which there is 
stretched from end to end a single string made of the threads of a split 
cane, and the place under the string is hollowed a little to prevent it 
from touching. This instrument is played upon in the same manner 
as a guitar. It is capable of producing but few notes; the performer 
however makes it speak harmoniously, and generally accompanies it with 
the voice. 


What they know of physic is small and simple. I had once occasion 
to see an operation in surgery performed on the toe of a young girl, 
who had been stung by a scorpion or centipede. The wound was attended 
with a considerable swelling, and the little patient seemed in gweat 
pain. One of the natives produced the under jaw of a small fish, 
which was long, and planted with two rows of teeth as sharp as 
needles : taking this in one hand, and a small stick by way of hammer 
in the other, he struck the teeth three or four times into the swelling, and 
made it bleed freely; the toe was then bound up with certain leaves, 
and next day the child was running about perfectly well. 

Their houses are generally built upon the beach in villages of 
fifteen or twenty houses each; and each house contains a family of 
twenty persons and upwards. These habitations are raised upon wooden 
pillars about ten feet from the ground; they are round, and, having 
no windows, look like beehives covered with thatch. The entry is 
through a trap door below, where the family mount by a ladder, which is 
drawn up at night. This manner of building is intended to secure the 
houses from being infested with snakes and rats, and for that purpose 
the pillars are bound round with a smooth kind of leaf, which prevents 
animals from being able to mount; besides which, each pillar has a 
broad round flat piece of wood near the top of it, the projecting of 
which effectually prevents the further progress of such vermin as may 
have passed the leaf. The flooring is made with thin strips of bamboos, 
laid at such distances from one another as to leave free admission for 
light and air, and the inside is neatly finished and decorated with fish¬ 
ing lances, nets, &c. 

The art of making cloth of any kind is quite unknown to the 
inhabitants of this island; what they have is got from the ships that 

come to trade in eocoanuts. In exchange for their nuts (which are 

< 

. ; 

- < t 

< < < 

< < < 


( 103 ) 


N 


reckoned, the finest in this part of India) they will accept of but few 
articles; what they chiefly wish for is cloth of different colors, hatchets 
and hanger blades, which they use in cutting down the nuts. Tobacco 
and arrack they are very fond of, but expect these in presents. They have 
no money of their own, nor will they allow any value to the coin of 
other countries further than as they happen to fancy them for ornaments : 
the young women sometimes hanging strings of dollars about their 
necks. However they are good judges of gold and silver, and it is no 
easy matter to impose baser metals upon them as such. 

They purchase a much larger quantity of cloth than is consumed 
upon their own island. This is intended for the Chowry market. Chowry 
is a small island to the southward of theirs, to which a large fleet of 
their boats sails every year about the month of November, to exchange 
cloth for canoes ; for they cannot make these themselves. This voyage 
they perform by the help of the sun and stars, for they know nothing of 
the compass. 

In their disposition there are two remarkable qualities,—one is their 
entire neglect of compliment and ceremony, and the other, their aversion 
to dishonesty. A Car-Nicobarian, travelling* to a distant village upon 
business or amusement, passes through many towns in his way without 
perhaps speaking to any one; if he is hungry or tired he goes up into 
the nearest house, and helps himself to what he wants, and sits till he is 
rested, without taking the smallest notice of any of the family, unless 
he has business or news to communicate. Theft or robbery is so very 
rare amongst them that a man, going out of his house, never takes away 
his ladder, or shuts his door, but leaves it open for anybody to enter 
that pleases, without the least apprehension of having anything stolen 
from him. 

Their intercourse with strangers is so frequent, that they have ac¬ 
quired in general the barbarous Portuguese so common over India; their 
own language has a sound quite different from most others, their words 
being pronounced with a kind of stop or catch in the throat at every 
syllable. The few following words will serve to show those who are 
acquainted with other Indian languages whether there is any similitude 


between them 

A man 

... Kegonia. 

To eat ... 

... G-nia. 

A woman 

... Kecanna. 

To drink 

... Okie. 

A child 

... C/m. 

Yams 

... T’owla. 

To laugh 

... Ayelaur. 

To weep 

... Poing. 

A canoe 

... App. 

A pine-apple 

... Frung. 

A house 

... Albanum. 

To sleep 

... Loom-loom. 

A fowl 

... Hay am. 

A dog ... 

... T'amam. 

A hog 

... Hoivn. 

Fire 

... T’amia. 

Fish 

... Ka. 

Eain 

... Koomra. 


They have no notion of a God, but they believe firmly in the devil 
and worship him from fear. In every village there is a high pole erected 
with long strings of ground rattans hanging from it, which it is said 
has the virtue to keep him at a distance. When they see any signs of 
an approaching storm, they imagine that the devil intends them a visit, 

> , ■> 

•> '> ' 

> > 

> > *> 

» , > 




( 104 ) 

upon which many superstitious ceremonies are performed. The people 
of every village march round their own boundaries, and fix up at different 
distances small sticks split at the top, into which split they put a piece 
of cocoanut, a wisp of tobacco, and the leaf of a certain plant; whether 
this is meant as a peace offering to the devil, or a scarecrow to frighten 
him away, does not appear. 

When a man dies, all his live stock, cloth, hatchets, fishing-lances, 
and in short every moveable thing he possessed is buried with him, and 
his death is mourned by the whole village. In one view this is an 
excellent custom, seeing it prevents all disputes about the property of 
the deceased amongst his relations. His wife must conform to custom 
by having a joint cut off from one of her fingers; and if she refuses this, 
she must submit to have a deep notch cut in one of the pillars of her 
house. 

I was once present at the funeral of an old woman. When we 
went into the house, which had belonged to the deceased, we found it 
full of her female relations; some of them were employed in wrapping 
up the corpse in leaves and cloth, and others tearing to pieces all the 
cloth which had belonged to her. In another house hard by, the men 
of the village, with a great many others from the neighbouring towns, 
were sitting drinking soura and smoking tobacco. In the meantime 
two stout young fellows were busy digging a grave in the sand near the 
house. When the women had done with the corpse, they set up a most 
hideous howl, upon which the people began to assemble round the grave, 
and four men went up into the house to bring down the body ; in doing 
this they were much interrupted by a young man, son to the deceased, 
who endeavoured with all his might to prevent them, but finding it in 
vain, he clung round the body, and was carried to the grave along with 
it: there, after a violent struggle, he was turned away and conducted 
back to the house. The corpse being now put into the grave, and the 
lashings which bound the legs and arms cut, all the live stock, which 
had been the property of the deceased, consisting of about half a dozen 
hogs, and as many fowls, was killed, and flung in about it; a man then 
approached with a bunch of leaves stuck upon the end of a pole, which 
he swept two or three times gently along the corpse, and then the grave 
was filled up. During the ceremony the women continued to make the 
most horrible vocal concert imaginable; the men said nothing. A few 
days afterwards, a kind of monument was erected over the grave, with a 
pole upon it, to which long strips of cloth of different colors were hung. 

Polygamy is not known among them; and their punishment of 
adultery is not less severe than effectual. They cut, from the man's 
offending member, a piece of the foreskin proportioned to the frequent 
commission or enormity of the crime. 

There seems to subsist among them a perfect equality. A few 
persons, from their age, have a little more respect paid to them; but there 
is no appearance of authority one over another. Their society seems 

bound rather by natural obligations continually conferred and received,_ 

the simplest and best of all ties. 

t * 

i « i 
< < 

< < t 



( 105 ) 


The inhabitants of the Andamans are said to be cannibals. The 
people of Car-Nicobar have a tradition among them, that several canoes 
came from Andaman many years ago, and that the crew were all armed, 
and committed great depredations and killed several of the Nicobarians. 
It appears at first remarkable that there should be such a wide 
difference between the manners of the inhabitants of islands so near to 
one another; the Andamans being savage cannibals and the others the 
most harmless inoffensive people possible. But it is accounted for by 
the following historical anecdote, which I have been assured is matter of 
fact. Shortly after the Portuguese had discovered the passage to India 
round the Cape of Good Hope, one of their ships, on board of which 
were a number of Mozambique negroes, was lost on the Andaman islands, 
which were till then uninhabited. The blacks remained in the island 
and settled it; the Europeans made a small shallop in which they sailed 
to Pegu. On the other hand, the Nicobar Islands were peopled from 
the opposite main, and the coast of Pegu; in proof of which, the 
Nicobar and Pegu languages are said by those acquainted with the latter 
to have much resemblance .—Asiatic Researches , Vol. /, p. 337, Art. XXI 
(published 1801 ). 




( 100 ) 


On the Islands of Nancowry and Carmorta , — By Lieutenant 

R. H. COLEBROOKE. 

The Island of Nancowry, or Soury as it is sometimes called, is nearly 
centrically situated among the Nicobar Isles. Its length may be about 
eight miles, and its breadth nearly equal. The Island of Carmorta, which 
is near it, is more extensive, but does not perhaps contain more solid 
land ; being excavated by a very large bay from the sea. The space 
between these two islands forms a capacious and excellent harbour, the 
eastern entrance of which is sheltered by another island, called Trinkut, 
lying at the distance of about a league. The inlet from the west is 
narrow, but sufficiently deep to admit the largest ships when the wind 
is fair. 

The Danes have long maintained a small settlement at this place, 
which stands on the northernmost point of Nancowry within the harbour. 
A sergeant and three or four soldiers, a few black slaves, and two rusty 
old pieces of ordnance, compose the whole of their establishment. They 
have here two houses, one of which, built entirely of wood, is their habita¬ 
tion ; the other, formerly inhabited by their Missionaries, serves now for 
a storehouse. 

These islands are in general woody, but contain likewise some por¬ 
tions of clear land. From the summits of their hills, the prospects are 
often beautiful and romantic. The soil is rich, and probably capable of 
producing all the various fruits and vegetables common to hot climates. 
The natural productions of this kind, which mostly abound, are cocoanuts, 
papayas , plantains, limes, tamarinds, betel-nuts, and the mellori ,* a species 
of bread fruit; yams and other roots are cultivated and thrive; but rice is 
here unknown. The mangosteen tree, whose fruit is so justly extolled, 
grows wild; and pine-apples of a delicious flavour are found in the 
woods. 

The Nicobar Isles are but thinly inhabited, and some of them are not 
inhabited at all. Of those we visited, Nancowry and Carmorta appeared 
to be the most peopled. There were thirteen villages, we were told, upon 
both islands; each village might contain upon an average fifty or sixty 
people, so that the whole population of these two will scarcely amount to 
eight hundred. 

The natives of Nancowry and of the Nicobar Islands in general live 
on the sea shore, and never erect their habitations inland.f Their houses 
are of a circular form, and are covered with elliptical domes, thatched 
with grass and the leaves of cocoanuts. They are raised upon piles to 


* Mr. Fontana has given an accurate and learned description of this fruit._ Vide 

Asi tic Researches, 3rd vol., p. 161. 

f The Great Nicobar Island is perhaps an exception, where it is said a race of men 
exists who are totally different in their color and manners. They are considered as the 
aborigines of the country. They live in the interior parts among the mountains, and 
commit frequent depredations on the peaceable inhabitants of the coasts. 







( 107 ) 


the height of six or eight feet above the ground, the floor and sides are 
la^ with planks, and the ascent is by a ladder. In those bays or inlets 
which are sheltered from the surf they erect them sometimes so near the 
margin of the water as to admit the tide to flow under and wash away 
the ordure from below. 

In front of their villages, and a little advanced in the water, they 
plant beacons of a great height, which they adorn with tufts made of 
grass or the bark of some tree. These objects are discernible at a great 
distance, and are intended probably for landmarks; their houses, which 
are overshadowed by thick groves of cocoanut trees, seldom being* visible 
rom afar. 

The Nieobarians, though indolent, are in general robust and well- 
limbed. Their features are somewhat like the Malays, and their color 
is nearly similar. The women are much inferior in stature to the men, 
but more active in all domestic affairs. Contrary to the custom of 
other natives, they shave the hair of their heads, or keep it close cropt; 
which gives them an uncouth appearance, in the eyes of strangers at 
least. The dress of both sexes, their mode of life, and some of their 
customs, have been so ably described by Mr. Fontana , that little needs be 
said of them here : I have only to state in addition an extraordinary 
ceremony which they annually perform in honor of the dead. 

On the anniversary of this festival, if it can be so called, their houses 
are decorated with garlands of flowers, fruits, and branches of trees. 
The people of each village assemble, drest in their best attire, at the princi¬ 
pal house in the place, where they spend the day in a convivial manner; the 
men, sitting* apart from the women, smoke tobacco and intoxicate them¬ 
selves, while the latter are nursing their children and employed in prepara¬ 
tions for the mournful business of the night. At a certain hour of the 
afternoon, announced by striking the gong,* the women set up the most 
dismal howls and lamentations, which they continue without intermission 
till about sunset; when the whole party gets up, and walks in procession 
to the burying ground; arrived at the place, they form a circle around one 
of the gTaves, when a stake, planted exactly over the head of the corpse, is 
pulled up. The woman, who is nearest of kin to the deceased, steps out 
from the crowd, digs up the skull,j* and draws it up with her hands. At 
sight of the bones, her strength seems to fail her : she shrieks, she sobs; 
and tears of anguish abundantly fall on the mouldering object of her pious 
care. She clears it from the earth, scrapes off the festering flesh, and 
laves it plentifully with the milk of fresh cocoanuts, supplied by the 
bystanders; after which she rubs it over with an infusion of saffron, and 
wraps it carefully in a piece of new cloth. It is then deposited again 
in the earth, and covered up : the stake is replanted and hung with the 


* An instrument of brass somewhat like the gharry of Bengal. Its sound is more hollow. 

f We were present at the ceremony on the 1st February 1790, when the first skull we 
saw was that of a woman who had been buried but a few months before. It was then dug 
up for the first time by her daughter. This office, we were told, is always performed by the 
women, whichever sex the skull belongs to. A man in a fantastic, garb officiates as priest. 







( 108 ) 


various trappings and implements belonging to the deceased. They proceed 
then to the other graves, and the whole night is spent in repetitions 
of these dismal and disgustful rites. 

On the morning following, the ceremony is concluded by an offer¬ 
ing of many fat swine, when the sacrifice made to the dead affords an 
ample feast to the living; they besmear themselves with the blood of the 
slaughtered hogs, and some, more voracious than others, eat the flesh raw. 
They have various ways however of dressing their meat, but always eat 
it without salt; a kind of paste made of the mellori serves them for bread, 
and they finish their repast with copious potations of toddy. 

The Nicobarians are hospitable and honest, and are remarkable for a 
strict observance of truth, and for punctuality in adhering to their 
engagements; but they do not want spirit to revenge their injuries, 
and will fight resolutely and slay their enemies if attacked or unjustly 
dealt with.* Their only vice, if this failing can be so called, is inebria¬ 
tion, but in their cups they are generally jovial and good-humoured. 
It sometimes, however, happens at their feasts that the men of different 
villages fall out, and the quarrel immediately becomes general. In these 
cases, they terminate their differences in a pitched battle, where the 
only weapons used are long sticks of a hard and knotty wood : with 
these they drub one another most heartily, till, no longer able to endure 
the conflict, they mutually put a stop to the combat, and all get 
drunk again. 


* We were informed that a party of Malays had once landed at Nancowry to commit 
depredations, and were cut off to a man hy the enraged inhabitants. A similar instance 
of their vengeance is said to have happened at the Island of Car-Nicobar, where they put to 
death some sailors, who were plundering their houses and probably attempting to violate 
their women. 




( 109 ) 


A Geographical sketch of the Nicobar Islands with special reference to 
Geology, By H. Rink, Ph. D., Naturalist to the Expedition of the 
Boy a l Banish Corvette Galathea; [ translated, from the German 
edition, by Dr. F. Stoliczka.] — Original published Copenhagen, 1847 - 


Preface. 

The reader of this small contribution to the geography of India 
will know, from the introduction to my travels, that I left tlie Corvette 
Galathea ,—which went on an expedition round the world by order of 
the King of Denmark,—at Pulo Penang, for the purpose of remaining 
temporarily on the Nicobar Islands. Besides other reasons, I was espe¬ 
cially led to this, because I thought that a longer stay and a more 
thorough examination of a smaller area would be more satisfactory for 
me than the extension of the long sea voyage with short visits to 
many countries, and mostly in the vicinity of the landing places which 
had been already geologically examined. Besides, this group of islands 
is attractive, because it forms a distinct area in itself, and one (for the 
examination of which the opportunity was now offered to me) at the 
same time little known, and appearing to me to offer in many respects 
rich material for the naturalist. Subsequent events, however, showed 
that I was not able to carry out my project as I wished to do. Exertion 
in the heat, and probably also the noxious influence of the air in the 
forests, produced the same perilous fever which had already swallowed 
up so many foreigners on these islands. After numerous attacks of it, I 
was obliged to return to Europe. After a short stay in Egypt and 
Italy I reached home at Christmas last year (1846). 

The expedition, to accompany which was to me an honor and a 
duty, had been furnished by His Majesty the King with the needful 
appliances for all branches of scientific inquiry in a natural history point 
of view. 

As Zoologists with the expedition were Professors Behn, Reinhardt, 
and Kjellerup. 

As Botanist, Mr. Kamphovener. 

As Medical men, Messrs. Mathiessen, Rosen, and Diedrichsen. 

Further, the First Lieutenant Rothe and Second Lieutenant Ravn 
were entrusted with the physical and meteorological observations; the 
ship^s Chaplain, the Reverend Mr. Hansen, undertook the collection of 
ethnographical objects; and with the object of making inquiry into 
commercial relations, Mr. Nopitsch from Altona afterwards joined the 
expedition at Calcutta. 

In the examination of the Nicobar Islands, moreover, Mr. Councillor 
Hansen, the Governor of the Danish possessions in the East Indies, took 
part. He joined us Irom Iranquebar. 





( 110 ) 


The Botanist, Kampliovener, left the expedition on account of ill 
health at Pulo Penang, and died shortly after his arrival at home 
from pectoral disease, from which he had suffered for many years 
previously. The department of botany was after this entrusted to 
Dr. Diedrichsen. 

A few months after my return I had the honor to hand over to His 
Majesty the King' a report of my geological investigation on the Nico¬ 
bar Islands. What I now offer here is principally a translation of this 
report into German, with a few additional remarks of general interest. 
For the notes regarding other branches of natural science which are 
included, I am indebted to the other members of the expedition, each 
of whom, after the visit to the Nicobars, sent home a preliminary report 
from Pulo Penang. An extract of these reports is already printed in 
the Danish language ( ec Uddrag af de paa Nicobar Oerne i Foraaret 
1846, anstillede Undersogelser”). I have also, with respect to the descrip¬ 
tion of the population of the island, extracted several passages from 
the work of a former colonist, the Reverend Mr. Rosen (“ Erindringer 
fra mit Ophold paa de Nikobariske Oer”). 


I.-MY TRAVELS ON THE ISLANDS. 

Among the places which were to be visited by the Royal Danish 
Corvette Galathea , sent out under the commaud of Captain Steen 
Bille in 1845 from Copenhagen, on an expedition round the world, 
the Nicobar Islands were prominently mentioned. These were under 
the Danish supremacy since 1758, when the Danish Asiatic Com¬ 
pany first made an attempt at a colonial settlement on Great Nicobar • 
and afterwards, in 1807, England took possession of them for a short 
time. During that period several settlements were attempted, some from 
Tranquebar ; at one time the Moravian Brethren, between 1768 and 1787, 
had an establishment on the Island Nancowry ; also in 1778, the Aus¬ 
trian Captain Bermet founded a small colony on the Island Carmorta in 
the name of his Government. But all these attempts lasted only for a 
short time. The influence of the climate seems up to this to have defeat¬ 
ed all efforts on the part of European as well as Indian settlers ;—some 
succumbed to the nervous (malarious) fever apparently peculiar to 
these islands; others returned home within a short time without seeino- 
any success in their labor. Thus it happens that we still know so 
little of the natural conditions of the islands, of their aptitude for cul¬ 
tivation, and of their produce. As is known, England a few years a^o 
made an attempt at a colony on the Andamans, but it had to be given 
up for the reasons assigned. Whether these difficulties are really insur¬ 
mountable, whether the whole range of these islands is destined by 
Nature only to support a miserable half-savage population, part of 
which ranks in the lowest grade of civilization anywhere known, or 
whether, as appears probable, the difficulty lies only in the first beo’ili¬ 
ning, time will sooner or later show. The present ^state of the islands 
seems indeed anomalous, considering their situation in the midst of so 
many countries which, by means of European civilization, are already in 



( 111 ) 


;i flourishing state in the hands of the active and enterprising English 
nation ; and further, considering that many ships going to and from 
those countries annually pass through the channels of these islands, 
and sail by their beautiful and naturally-secure ports, there can be no 
doubt that the situation entitles these pre-enhnently to take rank among 
the former. 

During our stay in Calcutta in November 1845, we were busily 
occupied with the preparations for an examination of the islands, 
which it was necessary to carry out during the dry season, in the months 
of January to March. I had resolved to go on beforehand to Little Nico¬ 
bar in an English vessel sailing at the beginning of December. After 
a very difficult voyage, on account of contrary winds and stormy weather, 
which kept us long in the high sea about the Andamans, we entered a 
small bay on Christmas day, with a gentle N. E. breeze and beauti¬ 
fully clear weather. The land surrounding us here greatly contrasted, 
by its fresh and luxurious greenness, with the flat, partially sandy and 
barren eastern coasts of India. The mountains of Little Nicobar are 
covered with primeval forest up to their summits, at few places only do 
they come abruptly down to the coast forming precipitous cliffs ; general¬ 
ly there is a stretch of cocoa-palm forest between them and the sea, and 
in front of it a great expanse of white sand with bright green shrubs. Our 
ship was immediately surrounded with the canoes of the natives, who got 
permission to come on board, and brought us presents of cocoanuts and 
piscing fruit. They were people -of large and strong frame of body, 
and with a much lighter color of the skin than Hindoos generally have ; 
I shall afterwards return to their probable descent; they all went about 
nearly naked, and the red color with which they paint their faces, as 
well as the remarkable manner in which they disfigure their teeth by 
chewing betel and rubbing them with acrid juices, gave them an 
appearance of peculiar wildness. On the whole their appearance and 
general behaviour proclaimed a high degree of stolidity and indolence. 
Although before our visit they had seen only two or three ships in their 
harbour, there was scarcely one of the various and not common things 
in our possession which attracted their curiosity, most of them sat down 
with a silent look, and when they got up to receive a present, especially 
tobacco, so highly esteemed by them, their movements were easy and slow. 

Next morning I went on shore for the first time. In approaching 
the coast, at a distance of about 100 feet from it, we everywhere saw 
the breakers produced by the coral-reefs ; they were scarcely visible from 
a greater distance, but seen close by, they threatened ruin to any boat 
of ordinary construction. As we rowed along for a short distance a 
break was unexpectedly discovered in the reef, forming a channel through 
which we passed quite safely into a little bay, while the breakers on 
either side were most furious ; and when I looked here into the depth of 
the clear sea water, I obtained for the first time the surprising sight of the 
beautiful corals which, with their arched surfaces in fantastic groupings 
formed the steep (30 to 40ft.) terraced outer wall of the reef. The 
place where we first landed was not inhabited ; the forest, extending to 
the very sand bank, formed of washed-up coral fragments along the 


( 112 ) 


coast, was so dense that I could hardly penetrate six or eight steps by 
cutting a way with a large knife; its luxurious growth, produced 
by the moisture and the fertility of the ground, appeared, so to 
say, at war with the sea; the strip of white coral sand which 
separated the one from the other was hardly broad enough to 
allow one to follow the coast along it; and on a stretch of about 
100 paces there were some of the gigantic trees (Barivgtonia 
speciosa), which form the outer margin, quite undermined by the 
waves, and lying horizontally across the coral-reef in the shallow 
water. The clear, deep-blue sky, the fresh and cool sea breeze, and 
the noise of the breakers close by, added to the solemn impression, 
which the first sight of this peaceful and undisturbed workshop of Nature 
had made on us. In the time between Christmas and New Year’s day 
I only made excursions in the immediate vicinity of the port ; and on 
account of the density of the forest on the one hand, and the fine 
section of the cliffs near the coast on the other, I chiefly kept along 
the latter. Still these excursions were attended by some difficulties, for 
though the flat coral reef extending all round offers a comfortable pas¬ 
sage during low water, it is under water during high-tide, and thus it 
happened that on returning I was shut out by the water reaching up 
to the cliffs, so that 1 had often to wade or swim through the water, and 
at intervals again walk on hot coral sand. 

An English Captain, who visited the Nicobars in the spring of 1815, 
brought from them several pieces of coal, which were given to him by 
the natives, and according to their information were found among the 
fragments thrown up by the waves, as was also indicated by their 
rounded shape. Seeing the importance which attached to the occur¬ 
rence of useful coal on these islands, I especially directed my attention 
to this point when examining the various rock masses. Those pebbles 
were found on the shore of the southern group of islands, and especially 
in the neighbourhood of this port, and the question had first to be 
solved, whether they were derived from beds here in situ, or whether 
they were brought to the shore by chance. That the former may be 
the case I made perfectly certain ; the natural sections of the rocks 
exhibit everywhere bedded masses of sandstone and shale, in which, 
here and there particles of coal occur of a similar kind to that found 
on the coast; but it still remained very doubtful whether considerable 
masses existed. The said beds were raised to a high dip, occasionally 
approaching to the vertical, and the hills composed of them in the 
interior of the island sometimes rose very precipitously to 1,000 feet. 
Still I did not find in these places a trace of intruded plutonic rocks. 

The flat coast consisted of fragments of coral and shells, and 
when I took advantage of the bed of a stream to penetrate into the forest, 
I was not a little surprised to find that the ground was everywhere 
covered with loose fragments of coral and shells, and that a compact 
limestone made up of the same masses formed the beds which were 
cut by the stream in the lower part of its course. Still I seldom 
succeeded in penetrating in this manner into the forest for more than a 
few hundred paces. Then the bed usually became very deep and 


( ; 113 ) 


swampy, a large quantity of vegetation in process of decay filling the 
same; large trees lay across in all stages of decomposition ; everything 
breathed a damp atmosphere, similar to what one finds in deep-closed 
cellars ; and at last the road was perfectly closed up hy thorny branches 
hanging down from both sides and entangled with the branches of the 
fallen trees and their epiphytes. / • 

Very different from these dark recesses of the primeval forest 
was that occupied by cocoa-palms, which are always found on the external 
edge of this flat ground. Here stood the huts of the natives, who almost 
owe there existence entirely to the cocoa-palms, using as they do their 
produce for all the various necessaries of life. The whole industry 
of their lazy existence is devoted to the cultivation of this plant, 
although it is undoubtedly indigenous to these islands, and seems 
made for the coral ground soaked with salt water. The cocoa-palm 
forest is still half treated by the natives as a plantation ; it is, therefore, 
generally free from underwood, is traversed by convenient shady 
paths, and is accessible to the fresh sea breeze ; while on the other hand 
it has not the character of regularity which, in cocoa-palm plantations of 
the cultivated parts of India, diminishes the peculiar impression 
which this form of vegetation produces upon a European visitor. 
Although the palms usually were much nearer to each other than would 
be prescribed by a planter’s skill, and often were mixed with other 
trees and brushwood, I have hardly seen them finer and of a fresher 
green on Pulo Penang or Ceylon than on these islands. I did not 
omit often to visit the huts built among these trees, for the natives 
combined with their peculiar phlegmatic temperament a certain good- 
humoured and patriarchal hospitality. Their mode of life was least 
changed by intercourse with foreigners in these parts of the group of 
islands. The simplicity of their necessaries of life hardly appeared 
to have developed in them the idea of distinct property ; of any state 
regulation they had no conception, and of religious prejudices a very' 
slight one. On reaching the shore, I was generally surrounded by 
a large number of inquisitive fellows, taken to their huts and there 
entertained in the best manner. I also used to take one of the people 
with me on my excursions ; for if one only allowed the time for con¬ 
sideration necessary to them for everything they undertake, he would 
receive much assistance. I had, therefore, generally for the whole day, 
a companion, who, on account of his acquaintance with the localities 
was of great use to me, and as soon as on our tours along the coast we 
came into a cocoa-palm forest, he was always ready to climb up a tree and 
fetch a few nuts, the cool water of which was an agreeable refreshment 
in the heat of the day. 

The port where we anchored was partly formed by the coast of 
Little Nicobar, partly by the small island called by the natives 
Milu. The latter is partly composed of sandstone hills, partly 
of flat alluvial ground rich in cocoa-palms, and from this circumstance 
also rich in inhabitants. As it was of a small area, and in some degree 
accessible by the paths made by the natives, after New Year’s day I 
devoted several days to its more thorough examination. Up to the end 

15 


( 114 ) 


of December we still had daily cool showers of rain, the last remnants 
of the S. W. monsoon and the wet season. But now came the dry 
season with its full force, and for the first time I felt the heat 
oppressive. To walk on that side of the island protected from the N. E. 
wind in the heat of the day and along the glaring white coral 
sand was especially very trying. Very often I had to retreat quite 
exhausted into the shade of the forest close by; but there was one 
object which, whenever I took to rest in this way, gave me always an 
occupation. The beach along the coast is very largely inhabited by 
the well known kind of crabs which take possession of empty shells, 
hiding the posterior portion of their body in them. They are even 
seen often to climb trees by stretching out their anterior feet and 
pincers and dragging with them their borrowed domicile; it is even 
reported that they go and fetch the cocoanut themselves from the trees. 
Most commonly, however, they crawl about on the coral sand, 
and whenever 1 drank the water out of a cocoanut and threw it away, 
I observed them running towards it from all sides, large and 
small, in the most varied costumes, some carrying on their backs 
large shells of Trochus or Strombus, others the smallest Cerithia , but 
always protruding their blood-red head,—and in a short time the cocoanut 
was full of them. Even if taken in hand and held up near a cocoanut 
ihe crab ate with such rapacity that he sometimes stretched out too far 
from his house, lost his balance and tumbled down ; it was most comical 
then to see him running about the sand and trying to hide his tail. It 
is almost impossible to find a dead shell not occupied by a crab, and I 
suspect that the propagation of these Crustacea is limited by the number 
of shells available. 

After I had gone several times round the island, I made an attempt 
on the 11th January to penetrate into the interior. I followed a path 
leading from a hut on the eastern side into the forest; it first passed 
along a few pisang (plantain) plantations, apparently cultivated by 
natives in former times ; then passing through a thick brushwood I 
reached a valley which occupies the centre of the island, and which 
astonished me by the peculiar and altogether tropical character of its 
vegetation. The ficus -like and other dicotyledonous trees and bushes, 
which form the greatest part of the primeval forest, almost disappeared, 
and the little ornamental Areca -palms and gigantic Tcindanus with 
their air-roots, their rich foliage and enormous fruit have almost sup¬ 
pressed all other vegetation. I thought at first sight that this was a 
plantation of the natives, because they make use of the fruit- of both 
these trees. I attempted to penetrate at different places, because there was 
no underwood in the way, but I sank everywhere knee-deep in a peat¬ 
like mud. I will afterwards give some particulars as to the origin of 
this kind of swamp, which is characteristic of the islands, and connect¬ 
ed with the coral formation. Following the path across the hills 
towards the north I reached the coast again, and saw in the distance 
a heavy smoke over the sea ; soon I recognised the Steamer Ganges 
which left Calcutta in December with several members of the expe¬ 
dition, but which went first to Pulo Penang to bring some Chinese 
workmen. After I had gone round the island, I found her already at 


( 115 ) 


anchor in the port, and had afterwards the pleasure of seeing friends on 
board : they left Calcutta at the same time, but were also surprised by 
the same storm in the Andaman sea which kept the vessel in danger for 
several days. 

In the evening of the tlth we weighed anchor and steamed round 
the northern group of islands, where we had to meet the Galalhea. 
It was our intention to anchor in the Nancowry Harbour. The next 
morning we already saw land surrounding us ; we came between the 
Islands Nancowry and Trinkuttee, and I was not a little surprised at the 
sight of them from the sea, being so characteristically different from 
that of the southern islands. The land rose into small hills, the heights 
of which were covered with green grass, while below they were surround¬ 
ed by thick forest, and still finer were the various changes betweeu light- 
green hills and deep-colored forest, when we entered the port through the 
eastern passage. With the exception of two narrow passages, the har¬ 
bour is everywhere shut in by the land of the Nancowry and Carmorta 
Islands, and even these outlets appeared from outside closed by the 
Islands Trinkuttee and Katchall. The hills extend on both sides as pro¬ 
montories far into the sea and form deep bays. I could have fancied I 
saw our home lakes surrounded with beech trees and green fields, had 
not the tall A7£awy-palms of the forest, and the cocoa-palms with their 
wretched huts reminded me of the distance and the foreign land. It 
is not to be wondered at that the former colonists had selected the neigh¬ 
bourhood of this large and excellent port for their settlement; besides 
the hills, free from forest, which it is so difficult to exterminate, may have 
appeared to them the best fitted for cultivation. But it seems quite clear 
that this grass vegetation is the result of the sterility of the ground, and 
that a place on which, with all the moist and tropical atmosphere and 
the abundance of seed, nature has been able to produce only spare and 
coarse grass, is also unfit for cultivation even when supported by human 

industry. 

•/ 

It happened that a short time after we anchored, the Galathea 
appeared at the eastern entrance, passed us, and selected a place for 
anchorage close to us. Excursions were now daily made iu the neigh¬ 
bourhood by the members of the expedition. The Botanist, Dr. Philippi, 
who was for some time in India, was added to my former companions. 
We generally went together every morning on shore, pitched a large 
tent, and then went out in all directions, each prosecuting some special 
purpose. I first went to the village Inuang; the natives met us on the 
strand, but were apparently timid and suspicious ; I also noticed among 
them some repulsive physiognomies, with the cunning murderous look of 
the Malays. They went about partly naked, some had a few rags of 
European clothing, which they obtained from ships’ captains, and thus we 
saw a fellow with a torn shirt, another with a piece of a pair of breeches, 
and some only with old worn hats or red caps, and a few others with a 
handkerchief tied round their necks. Close to the village they showed 
us the remains of the settlement of the Moravian Brethren, deserted in 
1787; a well with good walls was nearly filled with fallen branches; 
beside this, stood a staircase of stone, the place where a house 
had stood; but the garden was grown over with wild brushwood, and 


( ) 


large trees already occupied the place of the former house. On the 
opposite coast, in a situation called by the natives Kamlaha, we mount¬ 
ed a few grassy hills to find the remains of the Austrian settlement. 
But I think no traces were found of it, and only obscure contra¬ 
dictory reports exist among the natives regarding the place where the 
houses stood ; however, the fine views which we had from these bare 
hills over the harbour amply repaid us for the trouble of climbing them. 
Separated by a bay from this lies the Monkata Hill, where the last 
Danish colonists had their dwelling; we found, but with difficulty, under 
the high grass, the remains of a house built of stone, and in the valley 
close by a cocoa-palm and Areca plantation grown into a wilderness. 

Because the neighbourhood of the harbour, on account of the 
absence of forest and smaller quantity of jungly vegetation, was more 
easily accessible than the southern islands, it especially offered a rich 
field for the botanists. The hills chiefly consisted of a light clay 
stone resembling meerschaum, and through its lower beds everywhere 
'occurred conglomerates of various plutonic rocks of serpentine-like 
character. The same rock lay all about on the strand, and on account 
of the large size and great number of the pieces, I suspected that they 
must be in situ not far off. I found this shortly afterwards when we 
made a tour by steamer to the Island Kattlechall, and lay toon the west 
side of Carmorta at the entrance of the Bay of Ulalla. I shall after¬ 
wards notice in more detail these plutonic rocks, and the clay and 
pebble formations derived from them. 

The natives observed our doings with curiosity, but at the same time 
with timidity and suspicion. The communications with foreign vessels, 
and especially the example of the Malays, who often visit the islands, 
partly with the object of catching trepang , or to buy edible birds* nests 
and ambergris of the Nicobarians, partly also for their piratical trips, 
appear to have made an unfavorable impression upon their morals, and 
to have been the cause of the piratical doings of the inhabitants during 
the last few years. In 1839, for the first time, an English vessel was 
attacked between Carmorta and Trinkuttee, originally probably out of re¬ 
venge, because the sailors had insulted the women. The Captain and half 
of the crew were killed by them, a large number of canoes at the same 
time attacking the ship from all sides and overpowering those on board. 
Only five men and a mate escaped in a boat, and were so fortunate as to 
meet an English man-of-war; in 1840 an English ship was sent out to 
avenge this act, but all the inhabitants fled into the forest, and they 
had to be satisfied with burning down a number of huts and firing a 
few shots into the dense forest on the chance of hitting some one. °In 
August 1844, Captain Ignazio Ventura was anchored with a schooner 
between Terressa and Bompoka. A number of inhabitants from the 
villages Lallang and Bengallah came to him on board, bringing mer¬ 
chandise and presents under the pretext of friendship ; two" of° them 
went to the Captain in his cabin, and while one was opening a 
cocoanut for him, the other gave him a cut on the head with the 
large Malay knife. This was the sign for a general attack. The 
Bengal crew, frightened, jumped overboard, and those who were not 


i m ) 


killed were drowned. The ship was plundered and set on fire. In 
the same year Captain Caw was killed on his vessel near Carmorta ; 
some of the crew jumped overboard, but the serang or boatswain, an 
Arab, got a gun, shot one of the fellows dead, frightened the rest 
away, and escaped with the ship to Pulo Penang. As these assaults 
were originated partly by the Nancowry people themselves, partly 
through their instigation, it was only natural that the presence of our 
man-of-war was not welcome to them. They asked, with an evident 
uneasiness, how long we wished to stay, and whether we intended to 
build any houses. But from the villages Itoe and Bajuga all the 
inhabitants fled ; I several times visited the deserted houses to inspect 
the domestic utensils left behind. The Nicobarians who accompanied me 
said bad people lived here, for good people would have no fear. 

On Sunday, the 25tli January, we weighed anchor and moored 
between Terressa and the beautiful little Island Bompoka. While the ship 
cruised I followed in a boat, we looked out for a landing place on Terressa, 
but we met everywhere with unusually strong breakers; after we had 
gone a long stretch along the coast without finding an opening in the 
coral-reef, we noticed several natives standing under huts on the shore 
and looking at us. We had with us a young Nicobarian, who had 
accepted the name “ London,” and who acted as interpreter between us and 
his countrymen. In spite of his repeated calling that they should 
come to us in a canoe, they remained still staring. But “London” knew 
how to do it. He jumped overboard without taking off his sailor’s 
dress, which we gave him for decency sake, allowed himself to be thrown 
by the waves on the reef, and soon after stood transacting business 
with his friends on shore. At last they pushed out a large canoe 
and took us two by two from the boat to the shore. I was not a 
little astonished to see how they managed to get the little boat, cut out 
of a trunk of a tree, through the breakers. I was reminded of the 
skill exhibited on such occasions by the boatmen on the Coromandel 
Coast, but the break of waves produced by the peculiar formation of the 
coral-reef is much more rugged and violent. They carefully watched 
the rolling wave behind us, and when it came within a certain distance, 
then they pulled forward with all their strength. We went to the 
nearest hut and refreshed ourselves with the water of some splendid 
cocoanuts. Soon a crowd of people collected round us, and by means of 
the beads, earrings, and pocket-knives which we gave them as presents, 
we produced general good humour among them. Among others a young 
man came to us calling himself Captain Francisco, and wearing an Eng¬ 
lish blue-striped coat and trousers. He exhibited a vivacity unusual 
for the people of his tribe, made all kinds of comical foppish motions, 
acted as if he understood everything we said, and answered to every 
thing very well, how do you do.” But I believe he was a thorough 
blackguard, for the certificates of English captains, which he produced, 
were of very doubtful character, and “ London” always answered when 
he was asked, that he did not know whether he was a good or a bad 
fellow. We made a tour in the neighbouring cocoa-palm forest which 
occupied a considerable stretch of the coast. The people also appeared 
here well off according to their standaidj we saw abundance of 


( 118 ) 


pisangs , sugar-cane, pigs, and fowls. We returned, however, without 
any particular success from this trip, for time did not allow us to cross 
the alluvial land; still I found on their reef several pebbles of a charac¬ 
teristic plutonic rock, no doubt derived from somewhere in situ on the 
island. 

Next day we went round the southern corner to the western side 
of the island. Passing the village Laksee a large boat with natives 
approached us, and we took two of them with us on board. One had 
his face colored intensely red, and his neck hung with leaves. The 
other was a short stout fellow with an unusually jovial expression, he 
also had learned a few English words which he constantly repeated 
laughing. His mirth had a very repulsive aspect, and it was difficult 
to decide whether he had adopted it from fear, or whether he had 
indulged in the cocoa-wine so much liked by the Nicobarians. We 
anchored in front of a village situated a little further north. 

The landing in this place, through an opening in the reef, was 
beautiful and secure, but immediately on both sides surrounded by 
breakers, such as I had seldom seen. Next day we pitched a tent 
on the shore. The inhabitants were surly and uncivil, and I could not 
induce one of them to accompany me. My way towards the south led me 
along the coast through an extensive, beautifully open, cocoa-palm forest 
with numerous very fine banian trees. Then I followed the bed of a 
stream into the interior; it cut everywhere through coral limestone 
which further on appeared to rise to a height of 20 to 30 feet. When 
it became too swampy, I attempted to get through the jungle at the 
side and soon found myself in an open grassy space surrounded with 
flowering bushes. Thence I ascended the nearest grassy hill from 
which I had a magnificent view over the greatest part of the island 
and the sea. I found on this hill the same sandstone as forms the 
southern islands, but pierced by plutonic rocks and apparently altered 
by them. I returned in the evening without meeting any trace of man. 

On the 29th January, we weighed anchor again and cruised 
towards the northern coast of Carmorta. We went on shore the next 
day in several boats. While some of the party made a tour inland 
to hunt the wild buffaloes said to be found on this island, I followed 
the precipitous cliffs exposed along a great stretch of the coast; they 
consisted of the clay with pebbles formerly alluded to. But the high 
flood at last cut off my way; I therefore climbed the hills, and thence 
overlooked a large portion of the island without any forest. 
There was but little grass on the top of the hill, and the reddish soil, 
derived from the sterile dry claystone and ferruginous sand, appeared 
everywhere in patches. There stood, however, here and there on 
the grassy plains of the island, Pandanus and Nibong- palms. On the 
slope of the hill the grass was higher and denser as I passed down, 
and the passing through it, exposed to the rays of the sun, was so 
fatiguing, that I had to throw myself down every moment. Partiv 
vexed on account of the difficulties which this grass had put in my 
way, partly to kill time, I wanted to try whether it would burn. With 


( 119 ) 


a glass I set fire to a little dry foliage ; in a few minutes tlie fire spread 
in all directions, and was carried by the land breeze iuwards. The whole 
hill was soon in flames, and a dense smoke passed over the range. 

I was almost afraid that some harm might be done, but as soon as 
the fire came up to the highest ridge and was protected from wind, it 
only spread further in single strips ; and not long after it disappeared 
altogether. We returned to the ship in the evening; of buffaloes 
nothing was seen, but still we found unquestionable tracks of them. 

On the 31st January we moved west round Trinkuttee, right across 
the Nancowry harbour, and then towards the south, when we anchored 
in the evening in the port of Little Nicobar. Next morning I found 
myself again surrounded by the well-known shores over which I had 
climbed at Christmas. The Galathea remained here twelve days. During 
this time I made a tour round Little Nicobar in the steamer. 
In St. George’s Channel, which separates it from Great Nicobar, I had 
myself landed upon the small Island Kondul, while the ship went to 
carry out some soundings. I persuaded two Nicobar boys to accompany 
me with their canoe for the whole day, and although I could not speak 
one word with them, having, as with my two Chinese servants, to 
communicate by signs, still they followed me steadily round the island, and 
were eager to satisfy all my wishes. The news of the arrival of a 
foreigner soon spread over the whole island, and when I landed on 
the southern side several canoes came towards me from both sides. 
A so-called Chief came forward in European dress, but in every other 
respect clumsy, and with unusually hideous features, such as I had 
scarcely yet seen in any other of the Nicobarians. After I had enter¬ 
tained him with my wine and provisions, and had distributed cigars 
among his companions, we all went together to his hut, which with many 
others was situated on the eastern side. It seemed unusually clean 
and orderly. The floor and the walls were decorated not without some 
taste with sporting and fishing tools, besides sails of palm leaves, aud 
they brought me some beautiful fruit from the garden close by. 

The island proved to be of the same geological formation as Little 
Nicobar. High sandstone hills covered with forest occupied the 
middle part, and where they were exposed near the sea, patches of 
brown coal were almost everywhere visible. On the eastern and west¬ 
ern sides was some extent of flat land covered with cocoa-palms and 
wardens. I also visited, before I went on board, a few spacious caves 
which were full of edible swallows’ nests, of which I myself took 
down a few. 

Afterwards the whole party made an excursion from Little Nicobar 
to the small Island Trice. Its position in the open sea made the land¬ 
ing very difficult, as we had no canoes or natives to help us. We 
approached the beach as close as we could consistently with safety to the 
boat, then dropped anchor, and took advantage of every quiet moment 
to let the boat drift so far in, that one man could jump off every time 
and thus escape the approaching breaker. To return again we had 
to escape by swimming. The island was not inhabited, but contained 
plantations of cocoa and pisang- palms, and a tew huts built by the 


( 120 ) 

inhabitants of Little Nicobar for a temporary stay. A large number of 
birds were living in the forest. 

On the 13th February the Galathea left the port of Little Nico¬ 
bar, sailed westward round the island, crossed the St. George’s Channel 
and auchored in the evening in a bay on the northern side of Great 
Nicobar. 

The coast of this island appeared to be thinly inhabited. Only 
a few miserable and partly deserted huts stood near the place where 
we anchored. The mountains rise very precipitously behind the narrow 
strip of cocoa-palm forest which surrounded their base. From here we 
sailed along the eastern coast of Great Nicobar southwards. The land 
everywhere exhibited the same character. The mountains, rising in 
the interior up to 2,000 feet, approach the sea on the eastern side with 
pricipitous cliffs. We were only twice on shore. At the first locality 
there stood only a few huts long since deserted, high grass and brush¬ 
wood already grew under the cocoanut trees, the fruit of which appeared 
to be chiefly the food of monkeys. I only found the usual coal-bearing 
sandstone. In the second bay the landing is extremely difficult; we 
had to jump into the water and wade to land. What remained of 
dry clothes on us was thoroughly soaked by the showers of rain which 
followed. The dense forest extending to the very sea was everywhere 
in the way. I however reached a little solitary island composed of a 
plutonic rock surrounded by thick masses of conglomerate. As we 
sailed along the coast further towards the south I observed several 
similar rock-islands. At last on the 17th February the Galathea 
anchored in a spacious bay on the southern side of Great Nicobar. A 
river flows into it, and is navigable by boats for one to two days’ journey. 
We desired to make use of our stay to penetrate into the interior of the 
island. 

As are the Veddahs in Ceylon, there is a wild human race inhabiting 
the forests of Great Nicobar. But the people have as yet been seen 
only by the hostile inhabitants of the coasts, and are only known from 
their random reports. An independent tribe on an island of 20 
square miles, confined to the primeval forests of the same, scarcely ever 
approaching the coast, and never coming into any communication with 
another tribe, was certainly a subject of curiosity for us. This was increased 
by the strange reports which the Nicobarians gave of them : they called 
them Orang-Utang signifying in Malay, “ forest-men/' and considered 
them as a thoroughly different race, far below themselves, and which they 
hate on account of their uncivilized mode of life. They go about perfectly 
naked, sleep on trees, and live on lizards and snakes, and some poor fruits 
and roots of the forest. They often come out at night from the dense 
forests for the purpose of stealing from the inhabitants on the coast, and 
were therefore living in enmity with them. I believe, however, 'that 
only a very few of the Nicobarians who spoke to us about them had 
themselves intercourse with those forest men, or perhaps even seen 
them, for their accounts had entirely the character of tradition, marbled 
by various additions; some reports contradicted themselves, and others 


t 121 ) 


were connected with superstitious fancies. For instance, when we 
attempted to persuade one to go to the forest men and bring one of 
them to us, he pointed with fright to his stomach, and showed how 
large the Orang-Utang could make it by his magic craft. 

On the morning of the 20th we went up the river with the tide, 
and reached in the evening a small place hedged in with palisades, which 
to all appearance had been deserted only a short time before by its 
inhabitants, they having been frightened by our firing. We fastened 
our boats, and determined to stop here for the night. The huts were 
built in the same style as those of the coast inhabitants, but so small 
and miserable that one could scarcely call them places to live in, and it 
appears certain that they belong to a tribe quite different from that 
inhabiting the coast. They were, strictly speaking, only roofs of 
planks supported by posts, and apparently only intended for sleeping 
places, or as a scanty protection against incessant rain. In this respect 
also they were tolerably adapted for our wants; for the storm which 
here overtook us was accompanied with such a downpour of rain as I 
never saw, even during the rainy season which I subsequently spent on 
the islands. We had just taken our arms and provisions out of the 
boats, the tent was pitched, the fire made, and we expected to have a 
pleasant evening after our fatiguing journey, when suddenly the 
downpouring mass of water put out the fire, and soaked everything 
through. After the first confusion subsided, we managed to get a fire 
again, and prepared for a night's rest, while outside thunder and 
lightning followed each other with the severity usual in this climate. 1 
should have liked to know the conversation of the rightful possessors of 
the place, and how they got through the night. By early morning 
the storm had subsided. After we had dried our clothes, and once 
more inspected the property left behind by the forest inhabitants, we 
got again into our boats. The river was rather swollen by the rain, and 
its rapid course soon brought us to the ship. 

With this short visit to the Great Nicobar terminated the stay of 
the Galathea near these islands. A party of the expedition was destined 
to remain here with the steamer Ganges. I resolved to join the latter, 
meanwhile I accompanied the Galathea to Pulo Penang. 

We weighed anchor on the 25th February, and next day we lost 
sight of the mountains of Great Nicobar. Up to this we all were well, 
and almost doubted the dangers of the climate of the Nicobars so much 
spoken of. But only eight days after our departure there appeared the 
first attacks of fever on board the ship, and while in the port of Pulo 
Penang nineteen persons were taken ill in a few days, all who had spent 
that night in the forest of Great Nicobar. I was on a tour inland of the 
Malayan Peninsula when the fever and head-ache attacked me. I reached 
our hospital in Pulo Penang with difficulty ; my stay on this charming 
island was thus embittered in a melancholy manner. I was obliged 
to keep my bed for a week, and during this time four of my companions 
died, just when everything was ready for departure. I took leave of my 
friends and went on board an English vessel which was ready to go to 
' . 10 


( ) 


Lar-Nicobar for eocoanuts. Tlie N.E. monsoon was now again decreas¬ 
ing*, and on account of the calms which occur during the change of 
the monsoons, especially at the entrance of the Straits of Malacca, we 
were obliged to wait for several days under the Lankava Islands and 
the high coast of Sumatra, until, on the 18th March, we reached, with 
a fresh N. E. breeze, the port of Little Nicobar, where I found my 
friends on the steamer in perfect health. Not to expose myself to 
the dangerous malaria of the forest, I determined first to sleep on board 
until a proper place was cleared for us. On the Island Milu, where we 
arranged a few houses for our workmen, I bought a hut of the natives, 
and was for those days busy in setting out there my collections and 
instruments. We had at this time frequent calms, and the sun was 
very hot ; only occasionally a shower of rain gave a little relief. On 
the 6th April we weighed anchor for the purpose of visiting the northern 
group of islands. A light breeze sprang up to mitigate the heat when 
we got between Katchall and Nancowry, and we steered through the 
western entrance to the port. I went on shore in a boat which had 
taken in water near the village Bajuga. All the inhabitants who had run 
away during the stay of the Galathea I met now, but their suspicious 
looks and their sulky behaviour did not indicate the best intentions. 
The miserable huts, nearly surrounded by forest, also produced no favor¬ 
able impression. 

On the next day we went to Bompoka, and anchored about mid-day 
in front of a village on the western side. Viewed from the sea, the smail 
island had a very characteristic form, which reminded one of volcanic 
islands. The central ridge, about 800 feet high, surrounded on the 
southern side a crater-like valley, and gave off spurs which proceeded in 
all directions like radii towards the circumference. The simple grassy 
covering of these hills permitted exact observations of their form, while 
the forest extended into the valleys. The breakers were very strong, but 
there was an opening in the reef near the houses ; the place looked inviting. 
The large huts were surrounded by gardens with all kinds of fruits and 
spices ; the inhabitants were hospitable. Two of them accompanied me 
on my tour in the neighbourhood that afternoon. After I had examined 
the bed of a small stream, which was filled with pebbles of a serpentine 
rock, we followed southwards a shady path through the cocoa-palm forest of 
the flat coral land. After half an hour’s walk we reached a precipitous 
cliff, which, to my great astonishment, did not show any plutonie rock, 
but only coral limestone. The coral formation formed terraces to a height 
of from 60 to 80 feet. I had not as yet found upon the islands such clear 
proofs of the more recent upheavement of the ground. On the sea side 
my companion showed me a cave in the cliff", produced by the former 
action of the waves. We found the top of it nearly all covered with edible 
birds* nests. 

We started on the same evening: when I came on deck next 
morning we were near the Island Tillangchong. It was our inten¬ 
tion to attempt landing, because the island had never before been 
visited. I do not know how the story originated among sailors, that 
the Nicobarians use it as a Siberia for their criminals. It had 






( 123 ) 


however, from all sides, a hopeless barren appearance. Isolated from 
the lest of the group it rises from the sea in a narrow and precipi¬ 
tous cliffy ridge. The heights are covered with bushes decreasing 
gradually downwards, until the bare cliffs fall almost perpendicularly 
into the sea. We sailed along the western side seeking in vain 
for an anchorage ; a line of 40 to 50 fathoms did not reach ground 
although as near to the cliffs as was consistent with safety to the 
ship. At last a little bay was found between some bare cliff-bound 
islands. I landed to examine the rocks—no man was to be found— 
but I saw several cocoanuts opened with knives, and also remains 
of fire on the shore. I heard afterwards from the Nicobarians of 
Nancowry that the inhabitants of Cacena on Carmorta occasionally 
go across to get some edible birds’ nests. 

When we came the next day into the harbour of Little Nicobar 
its aspect appeared once more changed. I had generally hitherto had 
fine weather during my stay in the islands : only a few showers 
occasionally occurred, passing quickly away. But on this day the sky 
was covered with a thick mist ; heavy clouds hung everywhere on the 
mountains; small white patches of mist rose like steam from the forest 
and spread over the valleys. I then recollected the descriptions of 
former colonists which say, “ cloudy weather lasts for eight months 
on these islands,” so this seemed just the weather which we had to 
expect. I found afterwards that the true S. W. monsoon had not yet set 
in but it came with full force about the end of May, after many calm 
days of clear sky and the most oppressive air that I ever experienced here. 

During this time we once more visited the Island of Bompoka, and 
twice the port of Nancowry. At the last place we remained from the 
15th to the 16th May. The weather was even then very unsettled, and 
scarcely half a day passed without a heavy shower; I specially made 
use of the time to collect corals in the shallows of the harbour. I 
had intended to study the coral-reef with greater accuracy during 
the long rainy season, when I could not make many excursions. For 
this purpose it was especially necessary that I should make a collec¬ 
tion of the coral species occurring on the island. The true reefs, 
however, offered little opportunity to obtain them. Breakers seldom 
allowed one to approach the point where there were any living corals, 
and it was still more difficult to observe them and break them off In. 
the port of Nancowry, how r ever, there were generally no breakers, and 
although there were no true coral reefs either, there were a good many 
corals to be found locally on the sandy ground, and these exhibited a 
far greater variety of species than those of the outer reef, and were 
easily obtained. For this purpose I bought a canoe from the natives, 
and could with it pass over shallows, and have it carried easily from one 
place to another. I was so fortunate as occasionally to get corals 
with the animals in them ; among others I found one day a beautiful 
large Tubipora (? musica ), which I had hitherto obtained only in frag¬ 
ments on the shore. The animals protruded about half an inch out of the 
tubes; and because they were so close as to touch each other with the 
radiating arms, the whole surface appeared to be covered with a gelatin¬ 
ous mass. When touched they always retracted within the tubes, but 


( 124 ) 


they remained alive for about a quarter of an hour after they had been 
taken out of the water. I used to preserve some of the animals in 
spirit ; and exposed near the village Malacca a collection of corals for 
the purpose of getting them cleaned by the rain. With the corals in 
the shallows of the bay occurred a large number of sponges, 
imitating the coralline forms either by their convex or branching sur¬ 
face, and giving by their fresh light-yellow color, and by the variety of 
their forms, a most surprising aspect to the sea-bottom. 

On our return to Little Nicobar, the rainy season had fully set in. 
I still recollect the dull impression which these last few days of my stay 
on the islands made upon me. I then began to take advantage of the 
opportunity, which was offered by our clearances of the forest, to make 
a collection of plants, and noted specially the dimensions of the large 
trees that were cut down. But even in the intervals when there was no 
rain, everything in the forest was dripping wet, and as I could not go any 
distance on account of the unsettled weather, I arranged my collections 
in my hut, and made besides some chemical experiments. Every moment 
it became perfectly dark, and then heavy rain followed. The natives 
often came to me, partly from curiosity, partly to obtain protection 
against the weather : for they were shivering with cold, and begged 
more for clothing now than at any other time. Their sluggish and lazy 
manners appeared to me to be more in accordance with the character of 
the climate, now that I had experienced a part of that season which 
predominates on the islands. After many trials, I at last succeeded in 
inducing one man, who was most attached to me, to execute some work 
for me, for a reward of course. He always first repeated the objections 
of his countrymen, that the demons inhabiting the forest would 
punish every one who would attempt to touch it, and after I had 
persuaded him out of that as well as I could, he insisted that before 
all he must get permission from his wife, for he would be beaten 
by her if he should attempt such a thing without her knowledge. 
He brought her the next day and with her permission he began to 
clear in the forest a place for me where I wanted to make a garden. 
But I had not the chance of seeing what became afterwards of the 
pine-apples and melons which grew very rapidly in the moist climate. 
As our crew was very subject to fever, and we were short of medicines 
and fresh provisions, the Captain determined to make a trip to the 
nearest English colony. 

We weighed anchor on the 24th of May and lost sight of the 
islands the next day. A week later I found myself in a very different 
situation. Shortly after I left I was attacked on board with all the usual 
symptoms of malarious fever. It is scarcely possible for one who has 
not had personal experience to understand the severity of the illness, and 
the rapid prostration which it causes. I was on board for some nights, 
upon which I always look back with a feeling of horror, and on our 
arrival in Pulo Penang, I went immediately on shore. I was soon a 
little better and able to sit in an airy cool verandah of a house in George¬ 
town. A little garden full of nice flowers and some large Oleanders in 
flower extended to a street of the ornamental houses of the Chinese 




( 125 ) 


colonists. My little strength would not allow me to get up and walk 
a few paces without becoming giddy ; but the favorable situation and 
the active occupations of the people around me, produced an invi¬ 
gorating effect upon me; I was as if awakened from a heavy dream, 
in which the recollection of the last events before my illness mixed 
itself with feverish delusions, and as if the time which 1 spent on the 
islands, in their forests and among their semi-savage population, had been 
long past. 


II."““DESCRIPTION OP THE OLDER FORMATIONS ON THE ISLAND. 

If one views on a general map the situation and extent of the 
Nicobar Islands, they evidently appear to constitute a member of the chain 
stretching through Java and Sumatra, and re-appearing again in the 
Andamans and Cape Negrais on the Arracan coast. The whole of 
this chain is known for its volcanic activity. I found, however, on the 
Nicobars, no trace of true volcanic rocks, neither could I obtain from the 
natives any information regarding earthquakes; but features are not 
wanting indicating considerable upheavals in the most recent periods, 
which is here so well characterised by the growth of coral life. The 
connection of the islands with that principal chain is also exhibited 
in the direction of the strike of the oldest deposits, this being from 
S. S. E. to N. N. W., or coincident with the line between Sumatra 
and Little Andaman. The hilly islands consist partly of those stratified 
deposits which occupied the level bottom of the sea before their 
appearance, partly of plutonic rocks which pierced through the former and 
came to the surface through that upheaval. The age of these stratified 
rocks will also in general indicate that of the islands; I shall call them* 
in the course of this paper “ brown coal formation,” because they often 
contain pieces of brown coal. Although there are no sufficient data for 
determining its geological age, still the few organic remains which occur 
dispersed, indicate not an old, perhaps a tertiary, origin. To the two 
above-mentioned formations has to be added a third, which is the result 
of the chemical and mechanical destruction of the plutonic masses; it is 
local, and consists of clays and pebbles derived from the under-lying 
strata. On some of the islands this formation has reduced the high and 
precipitous configuration of the plutonic mountains, and produced 
an undulating hilly land; it is, however, evidently a submarine deposit, 
and has been upheaved by a movement later than, and independent 
of, that which caused the principal upheavement of the islands. I shall 
therefore call it in the sequel “ older alluvium,” without any intention, 
however, of expressing by this a definite geological age. It is on the 
other hand perfectly separated from the more recent alluvium, which owes 
its origin to the coral-reefs, and more or less completely surrounds each of 
the islands as a circular flat; I shall afterwards speak of this coral-reef 
formation in a special chapter. 

A.—Brown Coal formation .—The northern point of Little Nicobar is 
to some extent formed by precipitous cliffs, which expose a very good 
section with all the various rocks composing this formation. This part 


# See on this point Dr. Hochstetter’s account further on, page 208, &c. 





( 126 ) 


of the coast is about 1/200 paces long 1 ; the beds show a very steady 
strike, independently of the form of the hills and a dip of 20° to 25°. Pro¬ 
ceeding 1 from east to west, or from the more recent to the oldest strata, 
one chiefly meets a sandstone, which is by far the most prevalent rock 
of the whole of the southern group of islands. It is grey, occasionally 
somewhat reddish, fine-grained, and very soft. When a piece is put into 
hydrochloric acid it effervesces and falls to a sand of quartz grains and 
mica, the cement consisting of carbonate of lime with a little oxide of iron. 
With the exception of a few fine black stripes crossing each other in 
different directions, the sandstone is, as a rule, of uniform composition. 
The only fossils I found were some pieces of wood, which I shall sub¬ 
sequently mention. Some spheroidal masses seen sticking out of the cliffs 
and regularly arranged in lines are, however, remarkable. They consist 
of a much harder substance than the greater part of the sandstone, but 
acid acts upon them in just the same way as upon the latter. The 
imbedded and more solid sandstone is, therefore, identical in composition 
with the main mass, differing only by the calcareous cement being pre¬ 
sent in a larger quantity. It forms in this place round masses four feet 
in diameter; and because they resist decomposition longer, they protrude 
in the most varied forms out of the cliffs, and are strewed over the 
shore indicating the former place of the rock, though gradually they are 
swept by the waves to the bottom of the sea. One might at first sight 
suppose that these imbedded masses are, on account of their rounded 
form, pebbles of a foreign rock; but their composition shows that they 
have a similar origin with the rest of the sandstone, the only difference 
being that the calcareous matter which pervades the whole mass has been 
concentrated at certain points. The rounded form moreover could not be 
due to rolling about, for the concentrically laminar structure clearly shows 
that their external form is connected with their internal arrangement. 

Further towards the west, slaty beds begin to alternate with 
the sandstone. They chiefly consist of a firm, bluish-green, marbly slate, 
which, like the sandstone, contains locally a large proportion 
of carbonate of lime. In acid this marl falls to clay mixed with a little 
mica; this rock is otherwise very homogeneous, and in it too I never 
observed any other organic remains than fossil wood. The thicker layers 
show an imperfect cleavage in the direction of the strike of the beds, 
sometime in a transverse direction, producing rhomboidal pieces. In 
the thinner layers, and, as a rule near the sandstone, the rock contains 
more mica and quartz grains; and there is a gradual transition traceable 
from it to the great mass of the sandstone. 

On the western end of the said coast sandstone again prevails, and 
contains similar but oval masses of harder sandstone; here, too, they 
are scattered at the base of the cliff, and in consequence of being bored 
by molluscs, they assume a peculiar appearance giving them some resem¬ 
blance to fossil wood. 

All sections along the coast of the southern group of islands show 
the sandstones and slates as above described. One or the other prevails in 
certain localities, but there is no regularity in this. The sandstone, 





( W ) 


however, is on the whole much more common and visible on most of 
the cliffs; it is everywhere of the same constitution, not the slightest 
change in its grain nor any passage to conglomerate being observable. 

On the coast rolled fragments of a brown coal are often found 
among the pebbles of the more solid sandstone and coral fragments. 
The natives have known this coal for a long time, and brought me 
several samples of it, picking them up on the coral-reefs when fishing. 
To decide whether those fragments were really derived from the sandstone 
and slate formation, I first enquired of the natives where they prin¬ 
cipally found them, because they might have been brought down by a 
stream from the interior, and this would indicate their origin, but they 
only knew that they never occur inland, only along the coast all round, 
and not at special localities. They were also brought to me from all 
sides of Great and Little Nicobar; most frequently, however, they were 
obtained from the little Island of Trice, where I myself found numerous 
pieces in the coral sand. After this, I looked specially after the usual 
companions of coal-beds—bituminous slates and vegetable impressions, 
but they occurred just as little in the slates as animal remains did in 
the sandstone. The only trace of bituminous matter was found in the 
dark stripes of the sandstone; an instance, on Milu, where one of those 
stripes had occasioned the shifting of a thin slate layer, showed that they 
are due to the cracking of the sandstone through shrinkage, and to a 
subsequent filling in, but for the most part by the same material as that 
of the sandstone itself. The slates hardly showed a trace of bituminous 
matter. It was, therefore, scarcely expected, when I at last found a 
small kidney-shaped piece of coal imbedded in a block of slate which I 
had broken off at a cliff on the eastern side of the port. I met afterwards 
with several and larger pieces at different localities on Little Nicobar, 
Trice, Milu and Kondul; at last also I found a fossil resin in the 
sandstone of Milu. These coals, however, everywhere occurred in 
isolated pieces, one to two inches thick, and the slate or sandstone was not 
changed in contact with it. I do not doubt that the coal pebbles found 
under the cliffs had been imbedded in the same, because they resisted 
weathering better than the sandstone, which was washed away. All the 
pieces are much rolled, partially bored through by Fholadidce , and appear 
to have been exposed to the sea for a long time. I have, therefore, used 
them in attempting the following description of the organic remains 
found in this formation :— 

].—Fossil wood of greyish or reddish-Hack color. —It is very 
hard and can be polished. The fracture shows isolated vascular bundles 
in the dark mass, and the fibres are undulating in a longitudinal direc¬ 
tion. The specific gravity is 1*563; on combustion it gives 31*5 percent, 
of a dark brown-red ash, which, besides a little iron oxide, is chiefly silica. 
The isolated fibres, their undulating course, and the want of annual 
rings of increase all indicate that they were derived from monocoty- 
ledonous trees. This also appears to be supported by the silica in the 
ash, which is not found in the next varieties. 

o.— Fossil-wood of a greyish-black color.- —The fracture is dull 
and earthy; it docs not take any polish, but upon fracture close and fine 


( 128 ) 


concentric lines are traceable, which are grouped into larger rings. 
There cannot be any doubt that these fragments are derived from di¬ 
cotyledons. The largest piece shows two concentric systems beside 
each other, indicating a branching of the stem. The mass was porous, 
gave a specific gravity of 2*256, and 68*6 per cent, of a light-brown ash, 
consisting of iron oxide, clay and lime. 

3. — Fossil-wood of a Hack color. —The fracture showed similar 
white isolated specks to No. 1, but distinct concentric rings, and the root 
of a branch indicated an origin from a dicotyledonous tree. The structure 
of the wood passes in some places into a black, shining, pitch coal, in 
which the vegetable structure is no more discernible with the naked 
eye. Specific gravity 1*528, dark reddish-brown ash 23*7 per cent. 

4. — Coal of a cnnchoidal shining fracture and deep Hack color .— 
No organic structure is perceptible with the naked eye. I found this in 
situ on the northern side of Little Nicobar, and obtained besides numerous 
pebbles of it, among which there was one 8 inches long and 6 inches broad. 
A sample of this pebble had a specific gravity of 1*363; ash 8*8 per cent. 
A sample of the coal in situ had specific gravity 1*411; ash 8*0 per cent. 
The same gave, upon examination by the usual method with oxide and 
chloride of lead, a combustible value of 3457. By dry distillation a large 
quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen was produced; the distilled fluid was 
mostly watery, without much oil, contained carbonate of ammonia, and 
was quite similar to that obtained from peat in the same manner. 

5. — Coal, also without organic structure, of a conchoidal but dull 
fracture ; most of what I found in situ belonged to this variety. A sample 
from the north side of Little Nicobar gave specific gravity 1*338; ash 
6*7 per cent.; combustible value 3760. 

6. — Fossil resin, corresponding to amber, I only found in the 
sandstone of Milu. It is partly dark and pitchy, partly light-yellow and 
transparent, and becomes electric when rubbed. Specific gravity 1*037. 
It is very brittle, allowing itself to be pulverished between the fingers. 
Boiled in absolute alcohol, only traces are extracted from the powder. 
It bakes, however, in boiled ether, and what is soluble in this is again 
precipitated by alcohol. Boiling solution of potash has no action on it. 
Upon combustion it gives a smell similar to that of amber, but no acid. 
I did not make any further experiment with this mineral, though 
I have a sufficient quantity for an analysis. It appears to me to 
differ from the kinds of fossil resin I know of. Certainly it is derived 
from the same trees as the brown coal. However, there occur in the 
European brown coal formations a number of different substances of 
this kind, and there may be many to be discovered in the corresponding 
formations of this region, as yet so little known. 

The dicotyledonous form of the fossil-wood, as well as the con¬ 
dition of the coal, appears to indicate a rather recent age for the form¬ 
ation ; but the total want ol other organic remains makes a correct 
determination of this age impossible. The most likely method of obtain¬ 
ing information on this point would probably be a comparison 




( 129 ) 


with other brown coal formations in South-Eastern Asia. The rising* demand 
for coal for steamers, as well as its use for railways in India, has induced the 
English East India Company to direct attention to the quantity of this 
mineral in India itself. It has been known for some time that sandstone 
formations with many coal seams occur along the southern boundary 
of the Ganges alluvium, in the Nerbudda valley, and especially in Assam, 
on both sides of the Brahmaputra ; they partly touch the tributaries of 
those large rivers, and are favorably placed for carriage. On the 
Arracan coast, and on the adjacent islands, as well as in the province 
of Tenasserim, considerable deposits of coal have been discovered. The 
present results of the examinations have, however, not yet led to a con¬ 
clusion how far these formations are related to the great carboniferous 
formations of Europe and America. The observations have been restricted 
to the thickness of the out-cropping seams to testing the value of the coal 
for the use of steamers, and to estimating the cost of production. For 
many years mines have been worked in Burdwan, and here as 
well as in Assam (especially near Cherra Poonjee) great preparations 
have been made for working. The scientific examination* of the rocks, 
and the organic remains which accompany the coal, is as yet mostly want¬ 
ing. Perhaps also they belong to different formations, and specially is 
this likely in Assam, where the coal of one district is much inferior 
to the rest. Still most of these deposits appear to be more related to the 
carboniferous period than to any other. They all indicate a deposition 
in basins, and are characterized by bituminous shales with vegetable 
impressions. I had an opportunity of visiting the coal district of 
Burdwan on the Damuda river, and of collecting some of the vege¬ 
table impressions, which all appeared to have been derived from ferns, 
and of which five species are figured in Royle's work on the Himalaya. 
In the collection of the Asiatic Society I have seen flattened palm stems 
from the same locality. The coal mines west of the Ganges are also rich 
in iron stones; but in Assam and Arracan the coal-bearing sandstone 
partially rests on a fossiliferous limestone. The sandstone and shale are 
also penetrated with bituminous matter, and there is a discharge of oil 
in several localities. 

It appears that nofhing corresponding to these formations is to be 
found on the Nicobar Islands. The extreme uniformity of the sandstone 
and slate in the whole extent of the southern islands seems to indicate that 
these masses were deposited on the bottom of a quiet sea, probably not 
far from the mouth of a large river. There is not a trace to be found 
of local causes by which fragments of foreign rocks could have been 
brought into these deposits. The sandstone does not change in the 
least its fine grain from the island Trice down to the southern point of 
Great Nicobar. The patches of coal were imbedded without any order, 
sometimes in the sandstone, sometimes in the slate. They seem to me, 
therefore, to have been derived from drift wood, which was deposited with 
the clay and sand. I nowhere found what would indicate an accumulation 
of vegetable matter in basin-like depressions, where plants would have 


* Compare various papers on the age of the Indian rocks in the “ Memoirs Geological 

Survey of India.”— (Translator.) 


17 






( '130 ) 


been growing 1 in situ, and through which the surrounding clay would 
have been penetrated with organic matter, and mixed with fragments of 
plants. The question, therefore, still remains open, whether the brown 
coal occurs in considerable quantity, as really seems to be indicated by 
the number and size of the collected pebbles. 

When and how the carbonate of lime has been secreted from the sea¬ 
water, converting sand and clay into sandstone and slate, is indeed 
difficult to decide. I mentioned its concentration around certain points, 
outside of which it is again uniformly distributed. In this way more 
solid portions have been inbedded in the softer sandstone. On the 
N. E. point of Little Nicobar it formed very fine spheroidal 
masses, which are arranged parallel to the interstratified slaty-beds. 
In other places they are elliptical, approach each other nearer, and 
are sometimes connected by a band of the same hard mass. The 
question of the accumulation of lime is connected with the general 
question regarding the changes which have taken place in the interior 
of apparently solid rocks. It recalls the concentration of silica into flint 
in chalk, and especially the formation of small isolated patches of 
crystalline limestone in compact limestone, without any apparent plutonic 
cause. I will, subsequently, when speaking of the most recent coral 
limestone, relate similar instances. The parallelism of those bands 
with the slaty strata shows that they originated in certain directions, 
in which already some kind of secretion had taken place, and it may 
also be explained by the crystallising power in connection with a 
small quantity of some dissolving agent acting for a long time. 

The numerous slaty-beds gave opportunity for observing the strati¬ 
fication at several places. The appended map shows that the great 
mass is upheaved along one line which passes through the Islands 
Milu and Kondul. On both of them I found that the strata change 
from a western to an eastern dip; also that this line which coincides 
with the greatest longitudinal extent of the islands is the middle 
line of the whole system. The stratification of the rocks of Katchall, 
as far as I was able to observe them from the sea along the cliffy coast, 
also appears to exhibit this relation. The beds there showed a dip 
towards the west, and, from the plutonic rocks occurring, to the east on 
Nancowry. In the south-eastern part of Great Nicobar, however, great 
local variations take place, probably also caused by the plutonic rocks in 
those localities. 

B.—Plutonic Rocks .—The up-beaval of sandstone and slate beds, 
which previously had occupied the bottom of the sea, appears to have 
been accompanied by the outburst of the plutonic rocks, occurring partly 
on the south-eastern sides of Great Nicobar as isolated cliffy islands, 
partly in large quantities towards the north, where, suppressing 
the stratified rocks, they almost entirely form the islands. In 
general these ttvo formations are not found in immediate contact, being 
separated by the sea. But on the western side of Terressa I observed a 
small patch of sandstone of the same type as the soft sandstone of the 
southern islands, only slightly hardened and altered in consequence of 




( 131 ) 


the plutonic rocks which form veins in it. This fact, as well as the 
above-mentioned irregularity in the strike of the strata towards the 
south-eastern part of Great Nicobar, seem to me to prove that the 
plutonic rocks are more recent than the sandstone. The former exhibit 
nearly everywhere a very fine-grained, nearly compact fracture, in 
which the various constituents show very indistinctly, thus making a 
close determination very difficult; they have usually a serpentine-like 
appearance, and contain a larger or smaller quantity of water, chemically 
combined. Where the structure is, however, more distinctly crystalline, 
they pass partly into a more or less fine-grained gabbro, partly into 
diorite, or diorite-porphyry. In smaller quantities also syentic and 
euritic rocks are to be met with. 

1.-^-Gabbro and Hypersthene-rocJc. —On the Island of Terressa I 
found the bed of a stream full of pebbles of a coarsely crystalline rock. 
The inaccessibility of the country prevented my seeing the rock in situ. 
But the fragments were partially diallage of a light or yellowish, or 
brownish color, with only a small proportion of a compact, semi-translu¬ 
cent yellow, felspathic or serpentine-like mineral. On Carmorta I also 
found pebbles of a coarsely-grained gabbro, in which the felspar was 
prevalent of a greenisli-white color, translucent, and either compact or 
crystalline. Some samples of this gabbro were remarkably like the 
similar rock occurring in the Harz mountains in Germany. On the same 
island, also on Bompoka, I met finally with a rock, which, upon closer 
examination, contained distinct little flakes of diallage inbedded in a 
compact felspathic mass; and thus I was justified in regarding the rock 
as a fine-grained gabbro. These as well as the other pebbles showed also 
some pyrites in them. 

Z.—Diorite and Dioritic porphyry .—Some samples of the rock in 
situ on Carmorta, from which I obtained the above-mentioned fine grained 
gabbro, did not show any distinct flakes of diallage. They have a 
dark green color, and resemble in some respects a compact greenstone 
from Bornholm. The greater part of it seems to be felspar, which 
shows itself occasionally in small shining needles, and there is also a 
mineral more like hornblende than diallage. In this dark mass can 
occasionally be observed larger crystals of a light green felspar, giving 
the rock a porphyritic appearance. Pyrites is found everywhere in 
small quantities, and the fine cracks are filled with a zeolitic mineral, 
which is easily soluble in muriatic and nitric acid. 

The specific gravity of these rocks varies between 2? SO and 2'82*3 
An analysis of the dark-green mass gave— 

Silica 

■V Magnesia 

Lime 
Alumina 
Iron-oxide 
Water 
Soda 


\ 


48'90 

3 - 10 
4*43 
9-89 

2271 

4 - 03 
9300 













( 13 ^ ) 


The missing 1 6‘94 per cent, is chiefly soda, in the determination ol 
which I did not succeed. It must also be noted that the iron, 
determined as iron-oxide, was partially derived from pyrites. Potash was 
not found in it, and partly for this reason, because this and the next 
rocks were decomposed in muriatic acid; the felspathic constituent 
would seem to be labrador. 

3. — Serpentinous Gabbro and Diorite .—In immediate connection 
with the above are rocks of a dark greenish grey color, in which, 
however, the constituents could hardly be recognized. I was often 
reminded, when observing them, of the description which Darwin gives 
of the rocks of St. Paul, (On Volcanic Islands , page 31). Some ap¬ 
peared to be penetrated with a light green chlorite. These were especially 
found on Bompoka and T’illangchong. They all contain water chemically 
united and some pyrites interspersed. The mass powdered finely was 
partially decomposed by muriatic acid, and gave alumina, oxide of iron, 
lime, magnesia, and soda; some exhibit a polished surface with a thin 
layer of yellowish, transparent serpentine-like substance of small hard¬ 
ness. I suppose these rocks have a similar composition to that of the 
crystalline ones, only that the constituents could not separate sufficiently 
from each other. They may, therefore, also vary in their composition, 
as those do in the relative proportion of the felspathic, diallagic or 
hornblendic minerals; all contain magnesia. A sample from Bompoka 
gave 8*28 per cent, of magnesia, 2*72 per cent, water, and a specific 
gravity of 2*785. 

4. — Compact roc/cs without Magnesia .—Besides the fine-grained 
diorite, I found on Carmorta a very different compact rock, resembling 
at first sight eurite. It was separated from the preceding rocks 
by thick masses of conglomerate, so that I have not seen them in 
immediate contact, This eurite is of a brownish red color, and forms 
a very uniform mass ; only on close inspection there are little greenish 
or dark brown specks observable in it. Before the blowpipe it melts 
easily on the edges The specific gravity varies between 2*666 and 
2*761 ; but when pulverised and washed a coarser and harder residue 
remains, which has a specific gravity of 2*887. The finer powder which 
seemed to compose the lighter colored mass, and, therefore, had a smaller 
specific gravity than 2*666 or 2*761 gave by analysis:— 


Silica ... ... ... ... 40-25 

Iron-oxide ... ... ... 14‘71 

Alumina ... ... "... ’1902 

Lime ... ... ... ... 7-79 

S°da ... ... 7 7 .7. 6*18 

Water ••• ••• ... ... ... ... 504 


98*90 


The non was again here partially derived from the pyrites. )f 
magnesia, there were only traces, and in this the rock differs es: /dy 

fiom the foimer. I he residue after washing appeared to co .’c of 
quartz, red haematite, and magnetic iron ore. 






















( 133 ) 


A mass similar externally to this euritic rock, I found in situ on 
the eastern side of Nan cowry. It was also of a brownish red color, 
perfectly compact, but much harder than the former rock. The powder 
effervesced strongly with muriatic acid, and contained about 10 per cent, of 
carbonate of lime, but no trace of magnesia. Upon close inspection 
the carbonate of lime was observed to occur as fine veins in the mass. 
A like rock from Tillaugchong was very similar in appearance, but 
was softer, and contained the lime equally distributed throughout the 
mass. Professor Blum of Heidelberg, to whom I showed a piece of it, 
considered it identical with a schaalstein occurring in Germany. 

5.— Veinstones and subordinate masses .—It has been already 
mentioned, that in the crystalline as well as in the compact rocks, pyrites 
occur everywhere in small quantities, and that the gabbro and diorite 
on Carmorta contain in fine cracks thin plates of a nacreous zeolitic 
mineral. These minerals occur in greater quantity in veins which pass 
through the rocks, but in^general are not of any considerable thickness. 

Quartz in its varieties forms the principal mass of the veins. On 
Tillangchong there was a vein of red jasper with some white quartz 
protruding one foot out of the soil, formed from the decomposition of the 
rocks. The shore was here quite covered with pebbles of jasper. In 
other places the silica appears to have been more uniformly retained 
by the basic constituents of the rock, giving it what little hardness 
it possesses. Smaller veins of white and partially crystallised quartz were 
also very common. On Tillangchong they contained at the same 
time calcspar. In the bed of a stream on Bompoka I found a large 
quantity of fine crystals of quartz. 

On Carmorta the serpentinous gabbro was penetrated with veins of 
quartz with some iron and copper pyrites. I should doubt, however, 
that copper occurs in such quantity as to be of any practical value. But 
it is not improbable that these veins contain precious metals. The 
occurrence of gold in similar rocks, and its frequency in the same chain 
of mountains to which these islands belong, especially on Sumatra, is 
sufficiently known. There was a story in India that the Malays 
obtained gold from the Nicobars. I was unable to get from the natives 
any information on this point, and they would certainly have concealed 
it even had it been the case. That metal is known, being washed by 
the natives in the rivers of the Malay Peninsula and of Sumatra; 
, production is probably of little importance for the prosperity of 
Tories. An older alluvium derived from these plutonic rocks 
already mentioned, on Carmorta; and more rec it alluvium 
may be found on Great Nicobar. 

In the eurite above described occurred veins which distinctly 
indicated their origin by the action of water upon the cracks of the 
^ They mainly consisted of cemented fragments of a half decomposed 
eurite the cement being a white crystalline mass, partly calcspar, 
partly the zeolitic mineral, and no doubt deposited from the water which 


( 134 ) 


had decomposed the broken eurite. The zeolitic mineral is a silicate of 
alumina and lime with a large percentage of water, but 1 have not as 
vet obtained it free from carbonate of lime, so as to determine its 
characters more correctly. 


6.— Syenite .-—A sample of the soil from the point of Terressa 
brought to me was a decomposed fine-grained syenite. On the eastern 
side of this island I met on the coral reef with pebbles of a remarkably 
coarse-grained, quartzitic syenite, and of a melaphyr-like, or perhaps 
doleritic rock, and also near these fragments of the above-mentioned 
eurite. From want of time I could not reach the nearest hills beyond 
the stretch of alluvial land, but the rocks very probably occur there 
in situ. 


These are some of the rocks of which I had an opportunity to collect 
samples. I must, however, regret that the greater part of the collection, 
and specially the pieces which I brought from the last journey to 
the northern islands, were unfortunately lost. In an essay which I sent 
from Nancowry to Dr. McClelland in Calcutta, and which he printed 
in the July number of his Journal of Natural History for 1846, 
I have called the plutonic rocks of the Nicobars a serpentine or gabbro 
formation. I had not then had the opportunity of closer research, 
and of a comparison with typical specimens of those rocks. The 
changes and additions which I have made in this present description 
are chiefly based upon some small fragments which I brought 
home with me and analysed. I must also regret that I have so few 
data to exhibit the relative distribution of the various rocks. The 
greatest obstacle to this was the want of natural sections, on account of 
the dense forest vegetation, the separation of the older rocks from 
the coast by the large intervening extent of alluvial ground, as well as 
the short time which I was able to spend on the plutonic islands. 
Generally I only succeeded in reaching the nearest point where any¬ 
thing was exposed; then hastily broke off a few samples, made a few 
observations on the locality, and had to hurry again on board ship. I can 
only say that the serpentinous magnesian rocks form the principal mass. 
I further conjecture that the corresponding crystalline diorite and gabbro 
partly occupy the interior of these masses, and partly penetrate in veins on 
the outer covering of compact rocks. I have already noticed that the sand¬ 
stone and slate formation upheaved or pierced by the plutonic rocks 
had formed the bottom of an open sea. The circumstance that those 
compact rocks all contain water chemically combined and much pyrites, 
with no traces of porous slaggy rocks, also appears to me to be in favor 
of the opinion that they were upheaved under the pressure of a large 
mass of water; the difference of the more compact or more crystalline 
structure would then be explained by the quicker or slower cooling of 
the rocks. 


Finally, I have to mention that the plutonic masses in several locali¬ 
ties where they appear on the surface, are surrounded by a conglomerate, 
which cannot be accounted for by the action of water, but only m 
movement of the lower melted mass after the consolidation of he outer 


( 135 ) 

crust. This plutonic or friction-breccia was observed by me on Carmorta 
and also on Great Nicobar, in connection with the serpentine as well as 
with the euritic and schaalstein-like rocks. They were in these places 
cracked in all directions from without and inwards, and at top there was 
piled a mass of sharply angular blocks several feet in diameter, heaped 
together nearly without any cementing substance. The size and form 
of these blocks made it impossible to explain their deposition by water; 
moreover lower down and further in it plainly seemed to consist only of a 
shivered and split-up mass, beneath which the point of the under-lying 
continuous rock was visible like a cone. 

C .— Older Alluvium .—On Bompoka and Tillangchong the plu¬ 
tonic rocks are best exposed / and form precipitous, and as compared with 
the size of the islands, high hills. I mentioned, however, already that 
Carmorta, Nancowry, and Trinkuttee are distinguished by a flatter and 
undulating surface, because the plutonic rocks are here overlaid by more 
recent sedimentary deposits. Where the hills of these islands are exposed 
along the shore by precipitous cliffs, they are generally distinguishable 
from a distance by their remarkable light color. Upon closer examination 
I found them to consist principally of a kind of clay which I shall 
describe subsequently; it was, however, everywhere associated with 
pebbles and a conglomerate of the serpentinous rocks. A section exposed - 
at the narrow entrance to the deep and spacious Bay of Ulalla, on the 
west side of Carmorta, gave me the first opportunity of exploring this 
clay and pebble formation. 

The small conical portions A and B, (see plate Fig. 2) consist here 
of plutonic rock; A being a fine-grained greenish diorite or gabbro; 
B the reddish euritic rock. Both form, so to sajq prominences of a sub¬ 
marine plutonic mass, and each of them is surrounded by a coating, a a & 
b b , of friction-conglomerate of the same rocks. But between them and 
outside of them there rests a conglomerate C, which is evidently of quite 
a different nature. It consists of much smaller, and more or less rounded 
fragments of the reddish and greenish rock, mixed in about equal 
proportion, and cemented by a clayey and calcareous substance. The 
greater the distance from A and B the smaller become the fragments, 
and the larger the proportion of the cement. This conglomerate is 
therefore certainly deposited by water; the fragments were derived from 
a a & b b rolled up by the action of the water, mixed and deposited 
at greater or lesser distances. The size of these fragments also shows 
that the force of the water must have been considerable, as it can be 
produced only by the waves at the surface of the sea. The two promi¬ 
nences A and B, or rather some other of the same kind close by, were 
then 100 to 200 feet lower than they are now, and were exposed to the 
destructive action of the breakers. The conglomerates form in this 
western part of the island the predominant rock of the hills. They 
may especially be observed on both sides in entering the harbour of 
Nancowry from the west. The fragments sticking out of the cliffs 
are occasionally so large that they can be distinguished from a distance 
at sea. As the cement contains a large proportion of carbonate of 


( 130 ) 


lime, stalactites are found in the many excavations formed by the sea 
along the coast. The entrance to the harbour is marked by two small 
rocks, which are excavated from below, and form, so to say, two gates. 

The cement of this conglomerate, as just mentioned, is a calcareous 
clay. It is evidently the result of the chemical decomposition of those 
rocks, just as the fragments were produced by their mechanical destruc¬ 
tion. Further to the east those chemical products are almost exclu¬ 
sively present. I select here, as a sample, a section which can be regard¬ 
ed as representing what can be seen all round the island with very few 
modifications. 

This declivity is seen on the northside of the eastern entrance into 
the Nan cowry harbour, below the hills on which the colony “ Frederick's 
hoi" and the Austrian settlement was situated. It consists in the upper 
parts from B to C entirely of the clay immediately to be described. 
But in the lower part A B, it is formed of a number of horizontal 
strata, which partly consist of a conglomerate of fragments similar to 
those near Ulalla, partly of a very soft ferruginous sandstone, ( see plate 
Fig. 4.) 

The clay is white or light yellow at the surface exposed to the 
air, but internally, where it has not yet been affected by decomposition, 
it appears of a grey color. It forms a soft, light spongy mass, absorb¬ 
ing water very rapidly, and not unlike meerschaum at first sight. 
Under the lens it appeared perfectly homogeneous, and nearly without 
a trace of mica. Sometimes it effervesced with acids, at other times it 
did not. It can be pulverised easily, and when washed it remains for 
a long time suspended in water. I failed to decompose it by boiling 
in concentrated muriatic or sulphuric acid, by which only traces of basic 
constituents were extracted. It always contains magnesia. Before the 
blowpipe at first it blackens and then melts on the edges. An analysis 
by melting with carbonate of soda gave— 

Silica ... ... ... 72'2 

Oxide of ii’on ... ... ... ... g.g 

Alumina ... ... ... ... 12*3 

Magnesia ... ... ... ... 2‘1 

Water ••• ... !” 5-6 

100-5 

The clay is sometimes split, and the cracks are then filled with fine 
crystals of gypsum, and plates of hydrous iron-oxide; in the same 
places the cliffs exposed to the sun are covered with an effloresence of 
fine needles 0 sulphate of magnesia. The formation of these pro¬ 
ducts is easily explained, by considering that the stones in the conglo¬ 
merate contain much pyrites, and that in this, as well as in the clay, 
caibonate of lime and magnesia occur, consequently the gypsum is 
always accompanied by oxide of iron. 

The composition of this clay, and specially its percentage of mao*, 
nesia and want of mica, make it already probable that it originated 111 
a chemical decomposition of the said serpentine and euritic rocks, and 












( 137 ) 


by the extraction of alkalies from them. Quartz sand must have been 
produced by this process; and it is found accompanying the clay beds 
in the sandstone which alternates with the conglomerate in the lower 
strata in the section. The sandstones vary a great deal in the size, in 
the grain, and in the quality of the cement. The large roundish grains of 
quartz are sometimes cemented by a very small quantity of the clay, 
sometimes the sandstone is very fine-grained and friable, and the ferru¬ 
ginous cement appears to have originated from a subsequent decom¬ 
position of the serpentine fragments which were deposited with the 
quartz. Sandstone containing mica is rarely met with. As quartz 
occurs in these plutonic rocks, only subordinately in veins, and does not 
form an essential constituent of them, as in granite, these sandstones 
are always very subordinate in development to the clays. 

These clay and sandstone beds are found all round the coasts of the 

%j 

Islands Nancowry, Carmorta and Trinkuttee, the plutonic rocks rising out 
of them only locally, generally surrounded by conglomerate, from which 
portions extend all through the clay masses, especially through their lower 
strata. The strike and dip of the sandstone is by no means constant, but 
in general they approach horizontality. It is only quite close to the 
ridges of plutonic rocks that the conglomerates are prevalent. They 
are seen to alternate with the clays without any certain rule, occasionally 
a single rounded fragment of diorite or gabbro is met with in the midst 
of the fine clay, and the whole has the character of a littoral formation, 
such as might be laid down on the sea bottom in the vicinity of a cliff 
exposed to breakers. 

When I add that Pastor Rosen, one of the former colonists, when 
attempting to dig wells in the valleys between the clay-hills, always at a 
certain depth came on a hard rock, which could only be worked with 
sharp instruments, and thus was a great impediment to further excava¬ 
tions, I may justly conclude that the clay and pebbles everywhere rest 
at a depth of from 100 to 200 feet on a plutonic mass, which is mostly 
situated below the level of the sea, and appears only locally near or at the 
surface. The following section may give an idea of the geological 
composition of these islands (seeplate Fig . 3) :— 

Here p p indicate the subjacent plutonic rocks, t i the clay 
masses, and c c the detrital conglomerate. The manner in which I 
imagine that these deposits have been formed may easily be represented 
from what has been described, thus,—when through the upheaval of the 
coal-bearing sandstone and slate, and the protrusion of the plutonic 
masses, the greater part of the islands was already formed, there existed, 
in the position of the Islands Nancowry, Carmorta and Trinkuttee a mass 
of plutonic rock with numerous points above water, just as may now be 
seen round Tillangchong. These several islands were exposed to the des¬ 
tructive action of the atmosphere and of the water. Through the decom¬ 
position of the augitic and felspathic minerals originated the fine clay, 
which was washed away by the sea and deposited between the islands. 
(I have found quite a similar clay in the bed of a stream on Bompoka, 
being 1 still in the course of formation by the decomposition of the 

IS 


( 138 ) 


serpentine rocks through which the stream passes). At the same time, 
however, the waves broke off large pieces from the cliffs, depositing them 
at no great distance. It now depended upon the strength of the waves 
at any spot, whether conglomerate, or sandstone, or clay was formed 
there. The irregularity in stratification often indicates littoral deposits, 
which must have originated under such conditions. The cliffs either 
totally or partially disappeared, and their remains have filled out the 
hollows between them ; the ground was then raised a few hundred fee 
by a subsequent, rather uniform, upheavement, and appeared above 
the sea. 

On the accompanying geological map I have marked the Islands 
Car-Nicobar and Chowry as belonging to this formation, although I have 
not myself visited them.* I base this partly on the descriptions of others, 
partly on a few samples of the clay from the hills of Car-Nieobar, and 
partly upon the facts that the natives of Chowry make pottery, which 
appears to consist of the same clay as that from Carmorta. However, I 
am not entitled to lay much weight upon these suppositions. I have 
also to mention that I have not found any kind of fossils in the clay 
with the exception of a block of hornstone, which may have been a piece of 
silicified monocotyledonous wood ; I was, however, told that small bivalves 
occur in the clay of Car-Nicobar. In any case, the fossils cannot be 
common. Whether the sea in the neighbourhood of those rock-islands had 
then not the same favorable conditions for the development of a rich 
animal life as it has now, or whether the animal remains were destroyed 
in some way, or whether they are hidden in places which I had no 
opportunity to examine, I must leave for the present undecided. 


in .—the islands in their progressive formation, most recent 

ALLUVIUM, AND PHENOMENA OF UPHEAVEMENT. 

I have attempted to give a description of the geological constitu¬ 
tion of the hills which form the greatest portion of the Nicobar Islands. 
In the most recent period, the beginning of which is so well characterized 
by the introduction of the coralline life now inhabiting those seas, 
several circumstances occurred to alter their form and to increase their 
area by a flat ground, partly surrounding the hilly land and partly 
filling up the small patches of sea between them. The material for this 
was partly derived from the streams bringing down sand and clay from 
the hills, but the greatest portion of it was produced by corals. Thus 
originated two kinds of alluvium, so sharply defined one from the other 
that the conditions which favor one exclude the other. I shall, therefore, 
in the sequel call the former fresh-water alluvium, and the other, that 
piodueed b\ coialline life or the coral limestone, marine alluvium, 
foi, although the first was originally deposited in bays, it could not 
be formed there without the supply of river water. 


# See Hoelistetter’s account further on, page 208. 










( 13 !) ) 


On islands of such a small area, the largest being not more than 
about 20 (geographical) square miles, and where the breakers of the sea 
oppose the afflux of river water and partially carry away all particles 
they bring down from the hills, there are only few places where the 
conditions required for the formation of such fresh-water alluvium 
are present. Only where there were bays extending deeply inland, and 
surrounded by hills, and where the force of the waves and of the 
surf had nearly disappeared, could accumulations of river deposits take 
place. I had an opportunity of observing two formations of the kind on 
the south of Great Nicobar and on the north of Little Nicobar, but I do 
not doubt their existence in many other places. Great Nicobar terminates 
on the southern side in two diverging hill ranges, forming at their 
extreme ends a bay, but including further up a flat land of the form of a 
triangle, two to three miles long, less than half to a quarter of a mile broad, 
which is watered by the river to which it owes its origin, and which daily 
increases its extent by the deposits brought down from the surrounding 
hills. The extreme end terminating on the sea is thus still in progress 
of formation, swampy, and regularly flooded overby brackish water during 
high tide. This ground is almost exclusively covered with Mangroves 
and Phizophori . The outer margin of this mangrove forest along the 
river reminds one in some respects, by its fresh green foliage hanging down 
to the water, of our elder-bushes, sometimes also a small Acanthaceous 
plant may be seen there with beautiful blue flowers and thorny leaves 
very like those of the holly. But in the interior the mangrove trees 
stand perfectly bare out of the mud, supported by numerous air roots 
variously spreading over the ground; the lateral branches mostly fall off, 
or are broken off, the slender stems up to the large crown of foliage 
from which hang long air-roots, and which throws such a shadow 
over the saline morass that nothing else can grow on it. The ground, 
Hooded by brackish water is covered with a very large number 
of a species of Cerithium , and inhabited by numerous crabs. On Great 
Nicobar this mangrove swamp had, from the coast inland, a breadth 
of about a quarter of a mile. Farther up the valley the land rises 
and is only flooded by the river when its waters are swollen during the 
rainy season. The vegetation becomes here at once more varied, and 
is specially characterized by the stemless palm, Nipa fruticans ; it grows 
quite to the edge of the river, so much so that the large fruit hangs 
half in the water. At last, on both sides, there rises a small grassy edge 
between 8 and 10 feet high, and beyond this the primeval forest of 
the Nicobars stands in its full development; its peculiar ornament, the 
Pandanus especially forming beautiful groups. The lofty trees along 
the river are partly covered with climbing bamboos, and are set oil below 
by smaller bushes, among which beautiful tree-ferns are conspicuous. 


The formation of this flat land appears to have begun in the inner 
corner of the original bay, and thence to have gradually progressed. 
The mangrove swamp always extended first, encroaching upon the sea, 
while along the inner side the soil was raised and changed into dry land 
covered with a rich vegetation. There must, however, be a limit to 
this extension into the . sea, as soon as the bay becomes so wide an< 
open that the fine sand brought by the river is taken up by the 


( 140 ) 


waves and disappears in the sea; while on the other hand the breakers 
of the pure salt water favor a perfectly different formation, of which 
I shall speak immediately. This limit appears to have been reached 
on Great Nicobar. For the bay is here so large and open that heavy 
breakers beat everywhere against the shore. The coral-reefs had already 
approached from both sides of the coast in front of the flat land; a 
narrow strip of dry coral land had already separated the Rhizophorus- 
swamp from the sea; and at the mouth of the river, where the reef is 
interrupted on account of the corals not being able to live in brackish 
water, the sea had thrown up a bank of coral sand. 

The alluvial formation on the northern side of Little Nicobar offers 
a repetition of the same conditions on a smaller scale, but with this only 
difference that the above-mentioned limit has not yet been attained there. 
The country opens through the Rhizophorns-sw&m]) into a small narrow 
bay, to which the sea waves scarcely have access, and where corals cannot 
build reefs. The swamp and the bay almost insensibly pass one into 
the other, and the boundary is only indicated by the Rhizopkorus. But 
when this basin is filled out, further formation will be cut of by 
the breakers of the open sea and the coral-reefs. 

These two alluvial basins are solely composed of the products 
derived from the decomposition of the calcareous sandstone and slate for¬ 
merly described. They, therefore, consist of strata of micaceous sand 
and clay, and offer, no doubt, very fertile soil. However, I should suppose 
that in the south-eastern part of Great Nicobar plutonic rocks exist, 
and that in the interior of the two bays a gravelly ground of a different 
character had been formed. 

Where the outflow of fresh water is smaller, coral-reefs appear 
with their kind of alluvium, which occupies a much larger extent 
around the islands. These reefs offer an excellent example of the 
“ fringing -reefs ” so called by Darwin. As these are sometimes 
upheaved above the level of the sea, and thus can be observed as to their 
variations of structure and their mode of contact with the underlying 
rock, I believe that they are of the greatest importance as regards the 
theory of these formations in general. What I can communicate here 
is unfortunately only the fragment of a task, from the completion of 
which I was prevented by our speedy departure from the islands. I had 
till then made the older rocks the subject of my researches, but, as I had 
to pass the coral-reefs every day on my excursions, I think that I became 
almost involuntarily acquainted with their chief peculiarities. Among 
others I had especially occasion to observe the coral-reef formation of the 
Island of Milu, because its features can be considered as normal and a 
repetition of what with slight modification is to be found on the other 
islands. I therefore select it for more detailed description. I have made 
as good an attempt as was possible, with the many local difficulties in 
the way, to represent this formation on the annexed geological map. 

The island consists of a number of sandstone hills, differing in height 
from 100 to 150 feet, and of a flat alluvial tract stretching from the 
base of those hills towards east and south. The whole is covered with 


( 141 ) 


thick forest; only the external margin of the flat and is occupied by 
cocoa-palms. From there, as well as from the base of the hills where they 
reach the coast, extends the true coral-reef, lying dry during low water, 
while during high tide the waves reach up to the cocoa forest, or to the 
cliffs. The formation of the flat land generally began at the base of 
the hills and gradually progressed in all directions, while at the same 
time the reef constantly increased. However, before we consider the 
manner in which the new land progressed, I have to mention a gap 
in the circular zone of the original island, and which appears in the 
middle of the present island as a swamp. The fresh water which collects 
on the surface of the hills, and flows into the sea, prevents the develop¬ 
ment of coral life in those places in proportion to its quantity. 
I attempted to show in the preceding account how, in the bays which 
extend far inland, and which are gradually filled with detritus from the 
mountains', coral-reefs are perfectly excluded. But even in the smaller and 
more open bays, where there are no conditions for filling up by fresh water 
alluvium, the coral-reef cannot extend freely in. Along its inner side, 
next the shallow and less troubled brackish water, a mangrove- 
swamp forms, just as on the outer edge of the fresh water alluvium. 
I was, indeed, only able to observe this in few places; for, as a rule, the 
reefs have completely enclosed the original bay, as for instance on Milu, 
and that inner part separated from the sea by the new flat land has 
acquired a totally different character. Partly on account of that separation 
and partly on account of the filling up with detritus, the free access of salt 
water is gradually cut off. That there is any upheaval of the ground 
necessary for this result I hardly believe ; there is no certain evidence of 
such on Milu. The swamp then forms a basin, which becomes filled by the 
drainage from the surrounding hills, letting out the superfluous water 
through a narrow channel into the sea. As soon as the brackish water 
changes into fresh water, palm vegetation takes the place of the mangroves. 
On the drier places a small Areca catechu grows among the Pandanus, 
but in the middle of the swamp the latter only are predominant. They 
generally stand in small groups, and are supported by numerous air roots. 
Their stems attain a height of from 30 to 40 feet ; and I have seen fruit 
on them which were li feet long. The juicy condition of all parts of this 
plant seems to show that it is well fitted for the place. I have also seen 
on the other islands similar Pandanus- swamps, and I suspect Roxburgh 
refers to these localities when he states in his Flora Indica that he must 
conclude from existing accounts that the Pandani of the Nicobar 
Islands attain double the dimensions of those occurring anywhere else in 
India. The soil from which the air-roots protrude consists of decom¬ 
posed vegetable matter, and although it would be bold to compare these 
swamps with peatbogs which flourish at such a distance from the tropics, 
they do appear to consist on the surface of similar masses. I have not 
examined the thickness of this humus-like mould; it is certainly not con¬ 
siderable, and I should be disposed to believe that below it, remains 
characteristic of brackish water would be found, and below that again 
marine fossils. I do not know how it came that, when observing this small 
swamp with its rich vegetation of palms, I was reminded of those exten¬ 
sive swamps of former times, in which a still greater heat and humidity, 
combined with other conditions, probably unknown to us, had made 


( 142 ) 


possible the accumulation of vegetable matter, the remains of which we 
now use as coal. Professor Forchhammer gave his opinion, and as regard¬ 
ed the conditions in England, showed that this was probable, that the coal 
measures which occur in a basin of mountain limestone had originated in 
lagoon swamps formed by coral-reefs. I will not attempt here to argue 
this; but I may be permitted to direct attention to an analogy which 
can be drawn from this particular case. Supposing the Island Milu sank 
so that the Hat coral land were placed under water, the corals would 
then build from the extreme edge of the reef towards the surface, and 
would form a barrier reef separated from the islapd by a canal. The sand 
and clay brought down from the mountain by the rain would cover the 
swamp and its plant-remains, and at last fill the basin, whereupon the 
swamp-formation would begin again. Similar periodical depressions 
repeated would at last produce alternating strata of sand, clay, and coal¬ 
hearing masses containing either marine or fresh-water remains, the 
whole resting in a basin formed of rocks with exclusively marine fossils. 

I mentioned that the swamp has an outlet to the sea towards the 
east through a small stream. The influence of fresh water upon coral 
life is still seen at the mouth of that stream, in the interruptions of the 
reef. Similar interruptions are often repeated on the coast of the 
island, and are most important as landing places for boats. One might 
think that the swamp formation following the stream must extend 
externally over the whole of the new flat land. But it must be noticed 
that the conditions favorable to the gTowth of coral-reef increase in 
proportion as these extend outward. A small stream may sometimes 
change its course and its outlet, and in such cases former gaps in the 
reef are filled up. 

To illustrate more fully the process of formation of coral land, I have 
represented a section of it (see plate Fig. 5), extending from the base of 
the hilly land from which it started, on the line ABC, on the northern 
side of the island. 

I must make a preliminary remark that the whole of the limestone 
formation below the other deposits, consists of four beds, which, indeed 
cannot be observed on Milu, but the nature of which may be partly 
assumed from its known mode of production, and partly from direct obser¬ 
vation on the northern island, where considerable upheavements have taken 
place. The lowest of these beds m is a conglomeratic limestone; the 
middle and thickest bed n is the true coral limestone, built up by the 
corals themselves ; the upper bed o is again conglomeratic limestone, and 
on this rests lastly p, composed of detrital matter arranged as successive 
banks of sand. I he surface A B of the last beds is cpiite converted 
into dry land, covered with forest, and united with the island. The sur¬ 
face BCD., however, is either permanently or periodically covered by 
the sea, and forms the true reef. As soon as the waves reach the point 
C, heavy breakers begin, which may be heard at all times, even during 
calm weather, along the coasts of the islands. The great mass of water, 
which here meets a solid object, rises to a certain height and then foils 
over, continuing its motion over the surface B C. At high-water 
the waves reach to the sandbank at B, under the cocoa-palm forest, 


( 143 ) 


and accumulate there any fragments they may have carried along. 
During the ebb, however, they disappear near C, and it is then 
possible to go up to this spot. This space B C, on the exposed surface 
of the upper conglomeratic bed, is slightly inclined towards the sea, 
according to its width, and the difference of level between low and 
high water. This can be observed at the time when the water retreats, 
and at last only reaches the point C. It is found everywhere to consist 
of a compact limestone produced by cemented fragments of corals and 
shells. Walking on this area during the ebb one sees it everywhere 
covered with animals left behind by the sea. Just as one meets under 
the cocoa trees along the coast various forms of Pagurus inhabiting 
empty shells, one finds here an extraordinary number of crabs, among 
which some are distinguished by their long and thin legs, and the rapidity 
with which they run along sideways. In the numerous small hollows 
fishes and sometimes sea-snakes occur. But among the numerous 
polyps and mollusks Holothurm are particularly distinguished. There 
are at least thirteen species found in the neighbourhood of the island; 
several of them are used for the well known trepang , for the preparation 
of which the Malays visit the island. 

The rest of the reef C D, or the exposed surface of the true 
coral limestone, which is always under water, is the true seat of coral¬ 
line life, and from it the whole of the limestone formation originates. 
I have already alluded to the difficulties which are experienced in the 
observation of this area. Its upper horizontal portion is covered with 
corals, which I believe mostly belong to the Heteropora group. They 
are distinguished by very short and stout branches standing on a 
horizontal plate in perpendicular positions, and being mostly all of the same 
height; sometimes even they cover large spaces behind C; they are then 
all dead and brittle; although only partially covered by the water 
during the ebb, they appear to stand on the same places where they were 
originally growing. I cannot say whether, since that time, a slight 
upheavement of the island has taken place, or whether they grew up at a 
time when the water here stood higher. Darwin mentions similar 
dead branching corals which he found on the inside of an atoll-island, 
and which were also above the level of the water; as no upheavement 
could have taken place on such an island, he explains the former higher 
level of the water by a change in the form of the island. On the reefs 
of the Nicobars the water can reach a higher level only periodically 
during the S. W. monsoons; but it is also to be taken into consideration 
that, where breakers are constant, as on the outer margin of C, the sur¬ 
face may remain permanently covered by the waves which rise up there ; 
although it stands somewhat above the low water level of the sea if still, 
and that the surface inside C, now covered with dead and half-dry 
Heteropora , once formed the outer edge, at the time when the point C had 
not, by the growth of the corals, reached so far out. Wherever the break¬ 
ers are less heavy, and allow access in a boat, the area C D can be 
observed on account of the extraordinary clearness of the water. It is 
then to be seen that the principal mass of corals covering it have a 
convex surface; some of them may belong to As f tea and J\1 and/ /no , but 
I believe that most of them are those kinds of Forties in which the 




( 144 ) 


branches become obsolete, and a rounded surface is produced. I remember 
having’ seen a splendid block of Pori/es of that kind on the opposite coast 
of Little Nicobar; it stood like a small rock isolated in a channel of the 
reef, and one could pass in a boat all round it. 

It will thus be clear from what I have stated above how, in con¬ 
sequence of the coral growth, the whole formation must increase from 
C D, and progress in a horizontal direction. Although the building-corals 
are e'xclusively restricted to the side exposed to the breakers, and thus 
only grow up in the latter, it still happens that some of them are locally 
broken off by the force of the water. Probably this is specially the 
case during heavy storms, and the immediate cause may perhaps be that 
the coral becomes brittle after the death of the animal. While, therefore, 
new generations are building over C D, and the underlying parts are 
gradually changing into the true coral limestone, there is produced at the 
same time a quantity of fragments which serve for the formation of the 
upper and lower conglomerates. Some of these are carried forward by the 
waves that break over the point C, are partly deposited as sandbank at 
B, and partly spread over the area B C, when they become locally 
cemented. The circumstance that this area is alternately overflowed 
and left dry, and is covered during the greater part of the day by shal¬ 
low tepid water, certainly facilitates the solution and the distribution of 
the carbonate of lime, which cements the fragments. The conglomerate 
thus originated first fills up the hollows between the upper branching 
corals, and then covers them to a thickness which, as a rule, corresponds 
to the difference between high and low water. Perhaps the greatest 
part of the fragments fall to the sea-bottom in front of C, covering 
this here for some distance from the reef. Thus, then, as the corals build 
over these fragments, it follows that a conglomeratic ■ band is formed 
between the underlying rock and the true coral limestone. 

In both limestones, that composed of fragments as well as that 
of united corals, the original organic structure has undergone alterations 
through the slow but long continued influence of a dissolving agent. 
The cellular mass is thus more or less changed into a crystalline lime¬ 
stone, and the interspaces are filled up with calcspar. It is possible that 
the carbonic acid, produced by the decomposition of the animals, also 
favors the solution and distribution of the carbonate of lime. I had the 
opportunity of collecting a sample, which shows this gradual disappear¬ 
ance of organic structure; the most common is a compact limestone in 
which hollows with traces of corals and shells occur, but from this a 
gradual change is traceable into a fine-grained, and again into a very 
course-grained crystalline limestone, the cavities of which are filled up 
with rhombic crystals of calcspar. It would, under these conditions, be 
difficult to decide whether the limestone is a compound of fragments, 
but for one circumstance that always characterizes the conglomerate, 
namely, the admixture of pieces of older rocks on which the corals built. 
Looking on the map at the Island of Milu, we observe that the hills in 
some places, especially towards the north and west, extend out to the 
reef, without being separated from it by an area of flat ground. They 
here form precipitous cliffs, from which the waves break off fragments. 


( 146 ) 


spreading them over the reef, on which they become cemented with 
the upper conglomerate, or they fall down * from the reef and thus 
come into the lower conglomeratic mass. The nearest part of the 
horizontal area of the reef below such precipitous cliffs, as for instance 
near F G (see map) forms a horizontal section through the 
sandstone and slate on the same level with the coral-reef in front 
of it, and gives the means of direct observation of the strike of 
those beds. At these places the reef has not yet attained the width which 
is required for the accumulation of a sand bank and the formation of 
new land; but round the base of the cliffs at the N. E. point, the 
sea has already thrown up a semi-circular barrier of coral fragments, 
soon changing to dry land, and thus separating the cliffs from the sea. 
I have at other points noticed such retired cliffs now separated from 
the breakers by tlat land covered with forest. 

While, in the manner above described, the reef increases on the 
seaward side through the growth of corals, and the formation of the 
two conglomerates, the sand bank at B, and with it the dry land, 
can also increase without any necessity of an upheavement through 
subterranean forces. If this took place at the same rate as the corals 
build externally, then the distance between B and C would remain con¬ 
stant for the same locality and under the same conditions. I believe, 
however, that this is not strictly the case, and that there are some accessory 
circumstances, which I do not clearly understand : for the breadth of 
the reef varies even in places where the surf appears to be equally 
strong; and it is sometimes in a direct, sometimes in an inverse 
proportion to the strength of the breakers. Darwin supposes that at 
the atoll-islands, where land is only formed in this way, and no 
upheavement takes place, the heavy breakers accumulate fragments above 
the usual level of the sea, while the daily currents partially carry 
them off again, and that periodically during heavy storms and high 
floods, while the reef increases regularly in consequence of the growth 
of corals on the external side, the dry land follows it only. For 
the same reason he concludes that the external margin of a circular 
atoll-island is the highest, and inclines regularly towards the lagoon 
side, because the waves which filled out the inner side have to pass 
a longer way over the reef, and become consequently weaker. From 
this follows the supposition that the corals have not enlarged the 
reef in a corresponding, or at least in any considerable, proportion. A 
slope of the coral land is to be observed on several of the Nicobar Islands, 
and especially towards the Pandanus -swamp on Milu. At other localities 
successive sandy edges can be seen facing inwards. However, in 
general, and especially on the northern islands, the contrary takes place, 
and the new land rises gradually in terraces towards the base of the hills. 
That an upheavement of the ground has caused this, and in general 
facilitated the formation of new land, is certain; but on the other hand 
there are distinct proofs that the land has increased only through the 
accumulation caused by the breakers. The flat land on the south¬ 
eastern side of Milu rises only a few feet above the usual flood ; and when 
in the month of May the 8. W. monsoon drove the water into the 
harbour, the waves extended up to the outer cocoanut trees. On the 

la 


( 146 ) 


S. E. point, the sandbank had at that time reached a breadth of 20 to 30 feet 
and just began to be covered with vegetation. The wind had driven 
up the dry coral sand higher, and already a small kind of Convolvulus 
had begun to spread on the surface, and assisted the various kinds of 
grass in keeping the loose sand together; still such singular increase of 
land is certainly subject to changes; subsequent floods and currents 
might easily carry away the same bank, or place it somewhere else, and a 
general increase of the land would only be proved by a great many 
observations on the coast throughout the entire circuit of the islands, and 
during a long period. It is certainly so slow, that one generation is 
nothing, and probably the whole time during which these coasts were 
inhabited by the present race, is but very small as compared with it. 

It appears that, for the formation of new land, a certain relation 
between the strength of the surf and the constitution of the sea bottom 
along the coast, is necessary. Where the latter is flat, the corals can 
build most quickly outwards, and where the breakers are at the same time 
weaker, they cannot supply debris in the proportion necessary for the 
formation of the upper conglomerate and the dry land. Thus reefs are 

formed which differ from those above described : but thev occur much 

. ' %/ 

more rarely, and are only exceptionally found in comparison to those 
normal reefs. The channel between Trinkuttee and Carmorta varies in 
depth from five to ten fathoms. Especially on the western side of 
Trinkuttee the sea-bottom runs out very flat; it appears as if the corals had 
built not only in the usual way from the coast outwards, but had com¬ 
menced on different spots of the sea-bottom within a certain distance 
from the coast. As at the same time the motion of the waves is not so 
strong on account of the neighbouring* coast of Carmorta, the surface of 
these coral banks could not become covered with the usual quantity of 
conglomerate. The reefs extend from this coast to an unusual distance 
into the sea; they are covered with shallow water even during the 
ebb; and when one passes over them to the shore, one finds everywhere 
holes and channels varying from 4 to 5 feet in depth, their walls 
being covered with fine-branched corals. When one at last reaches the 
coast, one finds, in front of the dry alluvial land covered with cocoa- 
palms, a swampy area covered with mangroves, and regularly flooded over 
by salt water. 

These conditions are again found developed in a still higher degree 
in the harbour of Nancowry. This is, as I have already mentioned, formed 
by the coast of the two Islands, Carmorta and Nancowry, and is, with 
the exception of two narrow openings, perfectly enclosed. In this way 
a basin is formed in which the motion of the sea waves quite disappears, 
and therefore no constant breakers are produced. The inner parts of its 
deep inlets are half filled up with detritus from the clay hills, and the 
mangrove jungle extends everywhere from the coasts far into the bay, 
but through the centre of the harbour, between the two openings, there 
daily pass periodical currents caused by the ebb and flow of the tide; 
fresh supplies of salt water are thus continually afforded, and a very great 
variety of corals occur, which, however, do not apparently form a true coral 
limestone, or reefs of the same kind as I attempted to describe above. 


( 147 ) 


From the projecting points of the coast in the middle of the harbour the 
ground runs out flat, always under water, and over which every current 
must flow, causing small waves to be formed, except during perfect calms. 
These surfaces are everywhere covered with corals, but I nowhere found 
the compact conglomeratic limestone which characterises the outer reef; 
and it does not appear that the corals build in the above described manner 
regularly one above the other. They are scattered here and there on 
sandy ground among a large number of sponges and soft corals 
which are of no importance in the formation of reefs. Nearest to the 
coast on these reefs are especially found corals with very fine branches. 
Among others I remember to have obtained some similar to Millepora, 
alcicornis ; they were so brittle that I could not touch them anywhere 
without breaking off a few of the branches. On the same place 
I collected a large number of loose Fungi. Farther out, there occur 
numerous corals with a convex surface, and some of considerable size. 
I recollect having seen Astra, Maandrina and Porites similar to those on 
the outer reef exposed to the breakers; and I do not even know whether 
the latter contains species which do not occur at all in Nancowry 
harbour. Here also they rapidly disappear on the outer margin, and the 
reefs cease in 10 or 20 fathoms of water on a silty ground, which 
forms the rest of the bottom of the harbour. 


With the exception of these conditions in Nancowry harbour and 
the channel near Trinkuttee the reefs as above described occur all along the 
coasts of the other islands which I visited. This constant character 
depends, as we have seen, upon habitat of the building-corals at the outer 
side exposed to the breakers. It seems that these sessile animals especially 
like places where their incapability of moving about in the water 
is compensated by the movement of the water about them. I also 
believe that this is connected with the manner in which food is supplied 
to them; but the essential object of this motion of the water is, that 
the corals are constantly washed out, and the deposition of any sedi¬ 
ment prevented. For the rapidity with which these animals take water 
in and expel it again, so as to obtain the necessary particles for nourish¬ 
ment, cannot be so great that so enormous a free motion would be required 
for it as is produced in the great masses of water playing every moment 
above them. I would rather believe that these conditions of nourish¬ 
ment imply a certain chemical composition of the sea water for the life 
of the corals and the formation of the reef, and that for these reasons 
coral-reefs are excluded from certain large parts of the tropical sea. I 
had no time to analyse samples of sea water from different parts of the 
Bay of Bengal; several were taken by the expedition as desired by 
Professor Forchhammer, and his examination will certainly not give a 
less interesting elucidation of this inquiry than his known work regarding 
the composition of waters in various seas has given in other respects. 
For the non-occurrence of coral-reefs either round Pulo Penang, or at places 
on the Coromandel Coast which I visited, is certainly caused by some 
peculiarity of the sea water. It is mixed with fresh water and a fine 
detritus brought down by rivers, and therefore very different from the 
clear sea water in the neighbourhood of the Nicobars. Where these 
conditions exist, it does not appear to me probable that the corals are 


( 1-18 ) 


able to extract so quickly from the water the lime and other necessary 
food; that therefore a constant supply is necessary at the rate at which 
it is obtained through the breakers. The masses of water which roll in 
a few minutes over the reef are so large that the portion of it which 
comes in contact with the coral animals and is changed by them is 
insignificant in proportion to the whole. Besides that; the water is con¬ 
stantly renewed in the neighbourhood of the islands on account of the 
current from east to west; caused by the ebb and the flow of tide, and every 
place in the channels between the islands or close to the coast is affect¬ 
ed by this current. The form of the reef seems also to indicate that 
the principal action of the waves upon the growth of corals consist in 
their being constantly washed out. Only the steep side exposed to the 
breaker is covered with the building-corals advancing outwards against 
the surface; while on the upper surface as well as on the ground below 
are constantly accumulating the fragments. If one examines the 
ground in one of the channels between the islands outside of the reef; where 
the depth varies between 15 and 20 fathoms; within the range 
of the wave action, no reef-building corals are to be generally found, 
until the coast of the other island is reached, before which there is 
ag’ain a reef similar to the former. The soundings bring up sand and 
mud, or coral fragments of various sizes: this sediment, which must be 
constantly in the course of formation, being also moved about by the 
periodical currents and deposited at various places, must, no doubt, be 
especially in the way of the reef-building corals. The coral-reefs are, 
therefore, with few exceptions, coast formations, and moreover of the 
above described regular form which implies that they require, as starting 
point, a solid ground at a depth to which the motion of the waves is 
felt. I further look upon it as a settled fact that the coast in its entire 
extent round the island is surrounded by reefs,* except on the places 
where an interruption is caused by the fresh water; and another 
exception is where the coast has a precipitous fall to a depth beyond the 
prescribed limit. I had opportunity of seeing this near the small Island 
Tillangchong; soundings quite close to the shore indicated a depth of 
40 to 50 fathoms. At that depth must constantly be deposited the 
fragments broken off by the breakers and other detritus from the island, 
so that no corals can build there. There are also no reefs to be seen 
until anchorage is found in a small bay, and here they appear abruptly; 
a strip of flat land with cocoa-palms is observed, and on the shore a 
conglomerate is found with a very large admixture of fragments from 
the plutonic rocks. 

We see also that all the conditions required for the formation of 
coral-reefs are present in the sea round the islands, and that the growth 
immediately begins when the last mentioned condition, a solid base 
within a certain depth, is fulfilled; but only in this case. Upon this 
supposition, that the corals can only build on a solid ground which is 


* I hardly need remark that where, on the map, a blue stripe along a coast is wanting 
it does not mean to indicate that there is no reef in that place, for I only intended to in¬ 
dicate with this color that portion of the coral formation which has already been changed 
into dry forest-clad and, and permanently connected with the island. 






( 140 ) 


within the reach of the waves, Darwin, as is known, bases his ingenious 
classification of coral-reefs, and upon this again his theory of extensive 
elevation and depression. If the reef, starting in the above-mentioned 
manner from the coast, reaches a point where the depth exceeds a 
certain limit, the progress of growth is interrupted, unless a depres¬ 
sion or elevation of the ground takes place. In the first case the 
corals build upwards, thus producing a barrier reef separated by a 
channel from the original island, and after the total disappearance 
of the island a more or less circular atoll-reef. But if the island rises, 
the reef can progress in the regular manner as it began to grow. I shall 
not further enter into this theory, which always appears to be more 
ingenious and correct the more I think of it. That the Nicobar reefs 
belong' to the class of fringing-reefs will be clear from what I have 
already said. Darwin in his general work on coral-reefs lias colored them 
as such, and the description which I have here given of them is nothing 
new, but only an application of that celebrated naturalist's account of 
fringing-reefs to the given conditions. These fringing-reefs characterize 
also such coasts as are either stationary or subject to upheavals. That 
the latter is the case with the Nicobars, appeared already plausible from 
the fact of the volcanic activity in the range of islands to which they 
belong ; I have further obtained the most decided proofs of this. 

Nothing can certainly be more favorable for the examination of the 
most recent upheavement than a coast formation so well characterised as 
that of the reefs described above. Where, however, the elevation was only 
small, there still might have been doubts whether it could be proved 
with certainty. I have before attempted to show that the dead branched 
corals, which cover the upper surface of the reef, and which are not per¬ 
fectly under water during the ebb, cannot be considered as a distinct 
proof of an elevation. It is also difficult to ascertain this from the 
height at which loose fragments are found within the reach of ordinary 
breakers. I would rather believe that the upper conglomerate, where it 
lies above the highest flood, suggests an upheavement of the ground; 
I found this everywhere, even on the southern islands. I often saw 
in the interior of the forest, where a stream had cut its bed, that conglo¬ 
meratic stratum exposed. On Trice in beds 6 to 8 feet in thickness 
it covered the strand below the cliffs, and was altogether beyond the reach 
of the breakers. Wherever the limestone was thus exposed to the 
weathering action of the rain, instead of the salt water, it exhibited a 
remarkably rough and uneven surface. On the Island Terressa, I think, 
I saw a limestone bed formed of corals in situ exposed in the bed of a 
stream. Their size and position, with their rounded surface facing out¬ 
wards and upwards, indicated this; it was at a distance of about 500 
paces from the coast, and the bed of the stream had a strong fall towards 
it. On the same place I found the shell of a Triclacna of about three 
feet in diameter. 


Most distinctly, however, was the elevation shown where the whole 
formation lay with its underlying strata above the level of the sea. 



( 150 ) 


The west coast of Katchall had, at the place where I landed, a remarkable 
appearance. It was somewhere about bO feet high, consisting’ throughout 
of coral limestone; flat, sharp-edged blocks of 6 to 10 feet in thickness 
were heaped up, so that they covered the whole coast, and one could 
walk without difficulty between them. Upon closer inspection it was 
shown that these blocks were derived from a fully 20-feet thick coral bed, 
resting on the sandstone and slate noticed on the southern group 
of islands. In consequence of the upheaval, the underlying beds were 
exposed to the breakers and gradually carried off, and the coral banks 
followed. 

Still more interesting were the conditions on Bompoka, (see plate 
Fig. 6). In the flat coral tract on the west side of this island there is a 
patch of the older plutonic rocks, P, as an outlier of the central hills, and 
on this rests a coral limestone formation A, which covers the surface 
in all directions up to its edge, and is about 60 feet thick. 

From the base of this ridge, which lies, so to say, like a wall below 
the central hills of the island, a “new coral formation begins B, which 
as usual rises only a few feet above the level of the sea, and is in 
regular progress outwards. The bed A is conglomeratic above and 
below, containing there fragments of the serpentine-like gabbro; I 
suspect, therefore, that when the base P was 60 feet below the level of 
the sea, it extended from the then coast up to where it ceased to increase, 
on account of the abrupt fall. Only after a subsequent upheaval the 
outer prolongation of this base came so near to the sea level that a new 
coral formation b could take place. How deep the base of the latter 
lay I had no means of finding out. I believe, however, that the abrupt 
change of the older upheaved coral formation to a flat land, and the corres¬ 
ponding fall in the subjacent mass, can be better explained in this way 
than by supposing the upheaval itself to have been a very abrupt 
one, though this is also not excluded by that mode of explanation. * 

These are the few observations which I have been able to make 
regarding the purely geological character of the coral formation. Certain¬ 
ly it is worthy of a much better examination, and above all I think 
that zoological and physiological observations, which are quite wanting 
in my account, must form its true basis. I further have to explain that 
I have not visited the northern islands, on which the coral formation is 
said to be still more extensive. The upheavement to which the 
Nicobars have been subjected during the present epoch appears to have 
been least felt on the southern islands, and to have increased towards 
the north, so much so that on Chowry, as I have reason to suspect, it 
must amount to a couple of hundred feet. I do not, therefore, think 
it improbable that the islands have participated in disturbances of the 
earth, similar to those which have visited the Arracan coast within 
historical time, though the recollection thereof has disappeared among* 

1 lie inhabitants. 




( 151 ) 


IV.—CLIMATIC RELATIONS. NATURE OF THE SURFACE AND VEGETATION A 

We do not possess sufficient data for the determination of the annual 
mean temperature of the Nicobars; but the observations up to date 
appear to confirm the general statement that the thermal equator passes 
through them on its way from the south of India to Malacca, and that 
they possess one of the highest mean temperatures. The climate is 
entirely an insular one, the variations of the temperature between day 
and night, and also between the different seasons, being very small. 
One notices these differences only so far as the wind, or the movements 
of the clouds, are able to reduce the heat. During a fresh breeze along 
the coast the heat is seldom oppressive; it is decidedly so in the 
interior of the forest in the still, damp atmosphere. But when in April 
and May, during the change of the monsoons, under a clear sky there 
is calm weather, it is hardly possible to escape the oppressive and relax¬ 
ing heat; nothing can give protection or relief, and one does not feel 
equal to work, or to enjoy anything. I also believe that the electric 
tension of the air on such days increases the influence of the heat upon 
our organisation; for generally there is constant thunder heard in the 
distance, and occasionally heavy clouds collect round the hills, and relieve 
the air by a cool shower, and then one can breathe more freely. 

The whole group of islands is situated within the area of the 
monsoons prevailing in the Bay of Bengal, and causing the two prin¬ 
cipal seasons. A dry and rainy season are thus distinguished; the 
latter is, as already noticed, predominant; but one passes very gradu¬ 
ally into the other, and they are here not so well defined with reference 
to each other as at most places on the continent. Occasional showers 
are also seldom wanting for many days in the dry season, just as 
there are occasionally clear days during the rainy season. Consider¬ 
ing the combination of this great humidity with great and equable 
heat, one cannot wonder that the vegetation is really so enormous, 
especially on those islands which in addition possess all the conditions 
of a fertile soil. From this comes the fresh green which permanently 
covers their shores, like those of Ceylon, and probably most of the other 
south Asiatic islands. The pleasant impression which this makes is 
increased on the Nicobars by the peculiar character of the most recent 
coral land which usually surrounds the bays. This is especially marked 
by the cocoa-palm forest, the outer margin of which is generally set 
off by a belt of bushes, and their intensely green foliage, blended 
with magnificent flowers, is made vividly prominent between the shin¬ 
ing white coral beach below and the crown of cocoa-palms above. 
Immediately behind this flat land, the sight of which markedly recalls 
the description of the isolated coral islands of the Pacific Ocean, rise on 


* For the botanical names mentioned in this chapter I am indebted, beside the reports 
formerly alluded to, to the personal communications of the botanists, especially to the late 
Kamphovener. 


IgigT In any notice of the vegetation of the Nicobars, reference should be made to the 
very valuable paper by Mr. Kurz, of the Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, “ Report on the 
Vegetation of the Andamans Islands,” also to the chapter in Hochstetter’s account on 
this subject, vide page 223. 




( 152 ) 


the southern group the lulls covered with forest, to which the slender 
Aifo^-palms, rising* above the highest of the Ficus -like trees, give a 
specially tropical aspect. The different constitution of the soil appears 
to be the reason why forests are partially wanting on the northern 
islands; but the grassy tracts with interspersed groves of palms and 
Fandanus, and occasionally interrupted with small patches of forest, are 
not less beautiful in the scenery of these islands. 

I will add here an extract of the meteorological observations made 
by the officers on board of the Galathea during January and February. 
My occupations and excursions did not allow me to continue these 
observations regularly. Whatever I know from my own and other people's 
experience regarding the general climatic conditions of the whole group 
of islands, I shall place upon record here. The mean temperature pro¬ 
bably best agrees with 28° cent. (Here, as well as in all succeeding 
pages, the references to the degrees of temperature are those of the centi¬ 
grade scale). According to Rev. Mr. Rosen, who was 3J years on Car- 
morta, the temperature is said to vary in the course of a year between 
21° and 35° ; but both these extremes occur but rarely. I have never 
during my stay seen the thermometer under 25° and never above 33° in 
perfect shade. The seasons themselves do not seem to influence this 
difference at all, but it is caused by the periodical winds and the dry or 
wet atmosphere which accompanies them. The months December to 
March, in which the N. E. monsoon and the dry climate prevail, 
are generally the driest and hottest; but the greatest heat is experi¬ 
enced on individual calm and clear days during the time of the change 
of the monsoon in April and May. For the rest of the year the heat 
is tempered by the cloudy sky and the showers which the S. W. 
monsoon brings. I have found that a shower setting in rapidly 
brought the thermometer down from 32° to 30°, and at another time 
from 30’5° to 27*5°. A glance at the accompanying tables will show 
how very small the variations are between day and night during the 
S. W. monsoon. The greatest difference is 4*3°, and in general 
it is 2*5°. During the change of the monsoon, when after a clear and 
calm day rainy showers set in, the difference may be as large as 6°. 
It is also to be observed that the mean daily temperature during this 
season, which may be considered as the hot season, differs from the 
annual mean, or 28°. In general we can, therefore, speak of a hot and 
cold season only as regards its influence upon the human organism, this 
being dependent on the protection against the sun's rays by clouds, &c., 
or on the facilities for evaporation by winds. When tiie sun approaches 
the southern tropic, the N. E. monsoon sets in in the Bay of 
Bengal; it is a dry, steady land wind. As early as the beginning of 
November the wind begins to be easterly ; it is changeable up to the 
end of December, and steady from the north-east in January, Febru¬ 
ary, and March. In April and May it changes again, and turns gradu¬ 
ally to a south-west wind, at which point it remains stationary during 
the other months. The rain changes are according to these winds. On 
account of the small area of the Nicobars, the monsoons in passing 
across them are not in any particular way changed, as on Ceylon or 
Sumatra. Most likely the climatic conditions of the Nicobars will 



( 153 ) 


most resemble those of the Andamans and the Tenasserim coast. It 
has been already said that the rainy season is predominant; however, 
from the adjoining* tables it will be seen that not even the driest months 
are without rain. I must remark here that the word “ overcast” 
is applied to a sky entirely covered with clouds; the word <c cloudy” 
when heavy clouds are prevalent; the words “ clear” and “ mixed” 
are used in their usual signification; but when rain occurred, it is 
always specially noticed. The heaviest rains are in May, June, and 
July; and the S. W. wind is then also very strong, and frequently 
changes into a storm. Successive dry days occur only at intervals in 
August and during the change of the monsoons. The annual quantity 
of rainfall cannot be put lower than 100 inches. 


20 



( 154 ) 


Extract from the Meteorological Observations made by the Officers of the 

Galathea. 


The observations are recorded at intervals of 4 hours, and begin 
daily at 12 o'clock at night. 





Thermometer. 


Date. 

Place. 

Barometer. 



Sky. 




Dry. 

Wet. 


January 1846. 






12 


... 

27-4 

26-3 


4 


27-10i 

27-5 

26-5 

Overcast. 

8 


27T1* 

28-0 

27'0 

• 

5th 12 


27-114 

27-9 

26-0 

Cloudy. 

4 


27-104 

27-5 

25-0 

Clear. 

8 

r—< 
r* 

bp 

2711 

27-3 

24-8 


12 

S 

« 

27-114 

27-5 

25-5 


4 

0 

27-104 

27-2 

25-1 

Clear. 

8 


28* 4 

28-0 

26-6 


6 th 12 

05 

PQ 

27-11 

2,9-2 

26-8 

Mixed. 

4 

27-104 

29-6 

26-3 

Clear. 

8 


28-00 

27-7 

25-8 


12 


27-11 

27-11 

25-6 


4 


27-114 

27-0 

25-0 

Mixed. 

7th 8 


28-00 

28-5 

25-4 

Clear. 

12 


27-11 

28-4 

25-9 


4 


27-11 

28-7 

26-1 

Cloudy. 

8 


28-00 

. 27-7 

25-2 


12 


28- i 

27-3 

25-2 


4 


27-114 

27-2 

25-0 


8 


28- i 

28-3 

25-0 


8th 12 


27-11 

30-0 

26-0 


4 


27-104 

28-5 

25-1 

Mostly clear. 

8 


28- 4 

27-2 

24-8 

12 


27-114 

27'0 

24-6 


4 


27T14 

26-6 

24-0 

Mixed. 

9th 8 


27-114 

28-5 

25-3 

Clear. 

12 

U 

ci 

27-10 

28-8 

26-3 

Overcast. 

4 

& 

o 

27-104 

28-6 

26-4 

Thunder. 

8 

o 

• rH 
£ 

27-11 

27-4 

26-2 

Heavy rain. 

12 

1 

o 

27-ll| 

26-8 

26-1 


4 

27-11 

26-8 

25-4 

Mostly thunder and 

10th 

<1 

28* i 

28-8 

26-7 

rain. 

12 


27-10| 

28-6 

26-5 


4 


27-104 

27-4 

25-2 


8 


27-lli 

26-2 

26-0 

- 

12 


27-114 

25-5 

21-0 


4 


2711 

26-6 

25-4 

Mixed. 

11th ,? 


27-114 

28-4 

27-3 

12 , 


27-114 

29-8 

27-5 

Clear. 

4 


27-104 

28-6 

26-4 

Rain. 

8 

. 

27-114 

\ 

27-8 

26-2 





















































































( 155 ) 


Date. 

Place. 


-- ---- 

Thermometer. 


Barometer. 



Sky. 

# 



Dry. 

Wet. 


January 1816. 






12 

o 

27-111 

26-8 

26-1 


4 

CJ 

• rH 

£ 

1 

27-11# 

26-8 

25-4 

Mixed. 

12th 8 

28- # 

28-8 

26-7 

Clear. 

12 

a 

O 

27-111 

28-6 

26-5 

Mixed, with a little 

4 

27-11# 

27-4 

25-2 

rain. 

8 


28- # 

26-2 

26-0 


12 

4 

m 

rs 

P 

27-11# 

27-11 

27-7 

27-3 

26-8 

25-3 

Mixed. 

13th 8 


27-111 

27-6 

26-4 


12 

<D 

27-11 



Clear. 

4 


27T0# 

28-6 

26-4 


8 

a 

a> 

27-10f 

28-0 

26-8 

Mixed. 

12 

£ 

+3 

CJ 

27-1 If 

27-8 

27-7 


4 

rO 

27-10# 

27-5 

263 


14th 8 

• rH 

rt 

27-11# 

29-7 

27-2 

Mostly. 

12 


27-11 

29-6 

27-2 

4 

CJ 

27-10# 

29-9 

27-6 

Clear. 

8 


28- # 

28-2 

27-1 


12 

• 

27-11 

27-9 

26-4 


4 

Sh 

27-11# 

27-6 

26-8 

Mixed. 

8 

? 

o 

27-11# 

28-4 

26-8 

Lightning. 

15th 12 

r^3 

o 

27-11# 

31-0 

28-2 

4 


27-10 

29-3 

28-2 

Clear. 

8 

*<! 

27-lOf 

• 

28-4 

26-5 


12 

•—< (T) 



* M • t • 


4 

03 r—1 

OG -M 





16th 8 

12 

»g ■» 

S £l 

27-llf 

27-11# 

29-9 

27-0 

Clear. 

Mixed. 

4 

_£ s 

27-10# 

28-8 

26-3 

But little rain. 

8 


27-10f 

28-4 

26-0 


12 



274 

26-4 


4 



27-4 

25-8 


17th 8 

rH 

> 

27-lOf 

28-2 

27-4 

Mostly cloudy. 

12 

27-11 

29-7 

28-2 


4 

O 

27-10 

28-8 

27-7 


8 

a 

C3 

£ 

o 

27-10# 

28-3 

26-5 


12 

27-10# 

27-9 

27-1 


4 


27-10# 

27*5 

26-6 


18th 8 

o 
r, i 

27-11# 

30-0 

27-7 


12 

HH 

CJ 

27-11 

31-4 

29-0 

Mostly clear. 

4 

ra 

27-10# 

28-9 

28-1 

8 

CJ 

• rH 

27-11 

28-0 

27-1 


12 

rH 

o 

r-M 

27-11 

27-3 

26-3 


4 

CJ 

q 

27-11 

27-5 

26-0 


19th 8 

cS 

27-11# 

29-2 

27-9 


12 


27-10# 

29-8 

28-2 

Mostly clear. 

4 


27-10# 

29-3 

29-0 

8 


27-11# 

28-8 

27-6 



































































































( 156 ) 





Thermometer. 


Date. 

Place. 

Barometer. 



Sky. 




Dry. 

Wet. 

• 

January 1846. 






12 


27*114 

28*2 

27-8 


4 


27*11 

27*3 

26*4 


20th 8 


27*114 

30*2 

29*8 

Clear. 

12 


27*104 

29*6 

28*5 

Cloudy, with little 

4 


27*104 

29*0 

29*4 

rain. 

8 


27*11? 

28*1 

27*0 


12 


27*114 

27*8 

27*0 


4 


28*00 

27*3 

26*8 


21st 8 


27*11? 

29*2 

27*5 


12 


27*114 

30*3 

28*2 

Cloudy. 

4 


27*114 

28*8 

27*4 

8 


27*11 

27*8 

27*2 


12 


27*11 

27*4 

26*8 


4 


27*104 

27*4 

26*4 


22nd 8 


28*00 

28*0 

26*4 


12 

is 

27*11 

28*2 

26*6 

Cloudy. 

4 

O 

O 

27*104 

28*4 

26*8 

8 

d 

C3 

27*11| 

28*0 

26*2 

, 


fc 




12 

o 

27*114 

27*8 

26*2 


4 

-4J 

27*llf 

27*4 

26*0 


23rd 8 

o 

Ph 

27*114 

29*0 

27*8 


12 

o 

27*1H 

29*4 

27*6 

Cloudy. 

4 


27*114 

28*5 

27*1 

8 

d 

• pH 

28*00 

28*2 

26*8 


12 

Sh 

O 

27*11 

27*4 

27*0 


4 

o 

d 

27*11 

27*5 

26*8 


24th 8 

c i 

-4-P 

27*104 

28*2 

27*5 

Cloudy, with little 

12 

<1 

27*11 

29*0 

28*0 

rain. 

4 


27*11 

28*0 

27*4 


8 


27*114 

27*5 

26*8 


12 


27*114 

27*5 

26*9 


4 


27*8 

26*8 


25th 8 


27*114 

30*0 

27*8 


12 


27*114 

28-9 

27*8 

Mostly clear. 

4 


27*114 

28*3 

27*0 

8 


28*00 

27*5 

26*8 


12 


28*00 

27*4 

26*8 


4 


28*00 

27*3 

26*5 


26th 8 


27*11| 

28*8 

28*5 


12 


27*104 

29*0 

28*6 

Mostly clear. 

4 


27*104 

29*2 

28*0 


8 


27*114 

28*2 

27*5 


12 


28*00 

28*2 

27*3 


4 

• rH 

cS P • 

27*114 

27*5 

27*0 


27 th 8 

12 

a? -d 
^ S d 
a> > s 

nz -+J 

28* 4 
27*114 

29*2 

29*0 

29*0 

28*4 

Mostly clear. 

4 


27*114 

29*2 

28*6 


8 

- . 

28*00 



i 











































































( >57 ) 





Thermometer. 


Date. 

Place. 

Barometer. 

Dry. 

Wet. 

Sky. 

January 1846. 






12 


27-11J 

27*8 

27*2 


4 

• *—< . 

os a ^ 

27-llf 

27*8 

27*7 

Clear. 

28th 8 


27*11| 

28*5 

27*4 


12 

<X> > oj 

nd -5 


29*0 

27*4 

A little rain. 

4 

rH OJ M 

27*11 

28*9 

27*6 

Clear. 

8 


27*11| 

28*0 

27*0 


12 


27*113 

27*3 

27*0 


4 

00 

m 


27*4 

27*0 


8 

CD 





29 th 12 

<D 

H 

27*lli 

29*2 

28*4 

Mostly clear. 

4 


27-lli 

29*0 

27*4 


8 


28*00 

28*2 

26*5 


12 


27*104 

28*0 

27*1 


4 

SS 43 ri ! 

28*00 

27*5 

27*0 


30th 8 

05 _ 

27*14 

28*4 

27*6 


12 

® <K <73 

> p—< 

27*10| 

29*8 

28*2 

Mixed. 

4 

r-< !> C» 

h-g H 

27*103 

28*6 

27*9 


8 


27*104 

28*0 

27*0 


12 


27*104 

27.4 

27*0 


4 

U 

27*104 

27*2 

26*8 


31st 8 

o 

a 

27*114 

28*6 

27*4 


12 

U 

a 

27*10 

28*8 

28*0 

Cloudy. 

4 

o 

27*10 

29*6 

28*4 

8 

< 

27*11 

27*4 

27*0 


February 1846. 






12 


27*10 

27*8 

27*1 


4 

d'<P 73 





8 

p s 3 

a> O) TO 

27*10£ 

28*7 

28*0 


1 st 12 

"2 £'m 
fj IS >— i 

27*114- 

30*4 

29*0 

Cloudy. 

4 

fc> J 

27*10 

29*8 

29*0 


8 


27*11 

28*0 

27*5 


12 


27*114 




4 


27*1 

26*8 

Cloudy. 

2 nd 8 


27*14 

28*4 

28*0 


12 


27*10 

30*2 

290 

Clear. 

4 

• 

U 

27*10 

29*4 

27*4 


8 

ci 

O 






o 





12 

• H 
& 


27*4 

26*4 


4 

<X> 

r*H 

27*14 

27*5 

26*5 


3rd 8 

• rH 


28*6 

27*4 


12 

i-3 

27*114 

30*4 

29*4 

Mixed. 

4 

c S 
o> 

27*114 

29*2 

28*4 


8 

a 

Pi 

o 


27*4 

26*9 


12 

■s 

27*114 

27*3 

26*9 


4 

w 

ci 


27*2 

26*8 


4th 12 

-P> 

<1 

% 

27*104 

29*8 

28*8 

Cloudy. 

4 


27*104 

29*4 

28*4 


8 


27*11 

28*7 

27*8 

... .... 






































































































( 153 ) 





Thermometer. 


Date. 

Place. 

Barometer. 

Dry. 

Wet. 

Sky. 

February 1846. 






12 


27*10} 

27-6 

27-0 


4 


27-4 

26-8 




27-U 

28-2 

27-4 

Mixed. 

5th , 12 


27-10} 

30-5 

28-8 


4 


27-11 

28-3 

27-8 


8 


27-11 

27-3 

27-0 


12 


27-11} 

27-0 

27-0 


4 


27-11 

272 

26-4 




27-11 

28-4 

28-0 


6 th }2 


27-10 

30-1 

29-4 

Mixed. 

4 


27-10 

29-4 

29-0 


8 


27-11 

28-2 

27-2 

• 

12 


27-lOf 

27-7 

27-0 


4 


ttl 

28-3 

27-6 




27-11 

30-0 

29-1 

Mixed. 

/th ]/2 


27-101 

30-2 

28-8 


4 


27-11 

29-4 

28-4 


- 8 


27-ll| 

27-5 

27-0 


12 


27-llf 

27-0 

26-8 


4 

U 

27-llf 

27-0 

26-5 

Clear. 

ftfU 8 


28-00 

29-0 

28-2 


8 th 

*3 

27-11 

30-1 

29-5 

Cloudy. 

4 

& 

27-10 

30-0 

29-4 

8 

o> 

'Zj 

27-11 

28-2 

27-6 


12 

►j 

27-11} 

29-5 

29-0 


4 

5h 

o 




9 th 8 

3 

27 10} 

30-0 

27-5 


12 


27-09} 

29-6 

27-3 

Mixed. 

4 

4-3 

<3 

27-10 

28-0 

27-6 


8 


27-11 

27-4 

26-8 


12 


27-11 

26-8 

26-6 


4 


2711 

26-7 

26-0 


10 th 8 


27-10} 

28'6 

26-0 


12 


27-09} 

30-8 

27-9 

Cloudy. 

4 


2709} 

29-9 

27-0 

8 


27-lOf 

28-6 

26-4 


12 


27-10} 

27-2 

25-0 


4 


2711 

27-6 

24-8 


11 th 8 


27*10} 

30-2 

26-8 


12 


27-11 

30-3 

26-2 

Mixed. 

4 


27-10 

29-0 

26-0 


8 


27-11 

27-2 

26-0 


12 


27-11} 

26-6 

25-8 


4 



26-4 

25‘4 


12 th 8 


27-10 

29-0 

27-2 


12 

4 


27-10 

27-09f 

30-8 

30-0 

26-0 

26*4 

Cloudy. 

8 


27-10} 

28-2 

25-8 

I 







































































































( 159 ) 






Thermometer. 



Date. 

Place. 

Barometer. 

Dry. 

. Wet. 

Sky. 

February 1816. 







12 

?-T q 

27-11 

27-8 

25-0 



4 

2 § 


27-0 

25-8 


13 th 

8 

a * 

27-09f 

28-8 

26-0 



12 

d <x> 

27-09f 

30-2 

29'0 

Mixed. 


4 

-43 • 

<4 4-> 5- 

27-10 

29-0 

26-4 



8 


27-11 

28*2 

26-0 



12 

ns 2 

27-11 

26*8 

25-4 



4 


, , , , , 

26-6 

25-2 


14th 

8 

12 

o> o • 

>-c3 a> J2 

27-10 

27-09| 

29-0 

29-5 

27-2 

26-5 

j Thunder with rain. 


4 

£ 3 

27-101 

28-4 

26-3 



8 

m 

rC H-l 

27-11 

28-0 

25-3 



12 


27-11 

27-5 

25-0 



4 

5-» 

27-11 



Mixed. 

] 5th 

8 

C3 

rO 

27*10* 

28-7 

26-3 

Overcast. 


12 

o 

o 

27-11 

30-2 

26-9 



4 


27-11 

29-6 

26-9 

Mixed. 


8 

43> 

& 

<D 

27-10| 

28-0 

27'4 



12 

5-i 

O 

27-10 

28-4 

26-2 



4 

«*-. 

o 

27-11 

27-4 

26-2 


16 th 

8 

o 


29-5 

27-0 

Mixed. 


12 

• 

03 

27-llf 

30-0 

28-3 



4 

£ 

pd 


29-5 

26-6 

Cloudy. 


8 

27-llf 

28-4 

26-0 



12 

C3 

2711 

27-3 

26-0 



4 


27‘lOf 

28-2 

26-1 

Thunder and rain. 

17th 

8 

a> 

,£3 

27-11 

28-0 

26-5 


12 


27-llf 

29-0 

26-2 



4 

H 

O 

27-11 

28-6 

26-4 

Clear. 


8 


27-llf 

28-0 

27-2 



12 



28-0 

25-9 



4 


27-14 

27-14 

28-4 

26-0 


18th 

8 

c3 

rO 

29'1 

26-5 

Cloudy. 

12 

O 

o 

27-11 

30-6 

26-8 



4 

• rH 

27-11 

29-8 

26-7 

Mixed. 


8 

44> 

c3 

CD 

27-11 

28-2 

26'3 



12 

S-t 

o 

27'10f 

26-8 

25-6 



4 

<4-1 

o 

27-11 

26-4 

25-3 


19th 

8 

o 

28- f 

29-8 

26-4 

Cloudy. 

12 

'■d 

*02 

27-llf 

30-2 

26-9 

Lightning. 


4 

r/J 

27-111 

29-6 

26-2 



8 


28-00 

28-2 

25-4 









12 

-4-3 

a 

27-10f 

27-6 

25-8 



4 

5-t 

27-11 

27-4 

25-4 


20 th 

8 

o 

27-llf 

28-8 

26-5 

Mixed. 

12 

o 

d 

27-llf 

30-8 

28-2 

Thunder and rain. 


4 

c3 

4-3 


28-9 

26-4 



8 

■< 

28-00 

25-8 

25-2 



















































































( 160 ) 





Thermometer. 


Date. 

Place. 

Barometer. 

Dry. 

Wet. 

Sky. 

February 1846. 






12 


27-11 

26-7 

62-0 


4 


27-10| 

26-4 

25-4 


21 st 8 


28- | 

29-2 

28-0 

Mixed. 

12 


28-00 

30-1 

27-9 


4 



29-4 

27*8 


8 


27-111 

28-2 

26-9 


12 

• 

u 

27-11 

27-4 

25-8 


4 

rO 

27-111 

28-0 

25-8 


22 ml 8 

o 
o 
• »—< 

27-111 

29-2 

26-4 


12 


27-llf 

30-4 

26-4 

Mixed. 

4 



29-2 

26-2 


8 

o 

u 

o 

27-11 

29-2 

26-4 


12 

o 

27-11 

27-8 

25-4 


4 

o 

27-111 

27-6 

25-8 


23rd 8 

VI 

27-111 

28-4 

26-2 


12 

m 

27-llf 

30-0 

27-0 

Mixed. 

4 

0> 

XI 

27-lOf 

29-3 

26-8 


8 


27-11 

28-5 

26-1 



o 





12 

Sm 

o 

27-111 

27-9 

26-0 


4 

rC 

27-111 




24th 8 


27-111 

29-0 

27-0 


12 

-±2 

< 

27-111 

30-2 

27-2 

Mixed. 

4 

27-llf 

29-4 

26-2 


8 


28-00 

28-4 

27-2 


12 


27-llf 




4 


27-111 

27-8 

26-0 


8 


28-00 

29-4 

27-2 


25th 12 



30-2 

28-4 

Mixed. 

4 


28-00 

30-0 

28-2 


8 


27-111 

28-6 

26-2 



Various observations on the weather at the change of the monsoon during 

my last stay at the Islands. 

April. 

3-11. Regular, but weak N. E. monsoon with clear weather and 
oppressive heat throughout; on the 3rd, about 11 a. m., the 
thermometer was reduced by a sudden shower of rain from 
32° to 30°. 

10. South-west wind and a thick rainy atmosphere. 

11. Calm; oppressive heat. 

12. Forenoon-calm and clear weather; afternoon—-violent thun¬ 
der and rain. 


























































( 161 ) 


13-18. Mostly calm weather and regular though weak N. E. monsoon,. 

passing generally towards mid-day into a calm. The 
thermometer stood at from 29° to 31°. 

19. Calm, and heat most oppressive. In the afternoon a thunder 
shower. The sea showed a swell from the S. W. 

20-21. Hot weather with an easterly breeze. 

22. A calm, and frightful heat in Nancowry harbour. 

23. Scarcely a breath of air. 

24-26. North-easterly but slight wind, sky overcast; the thermometer 
standing at 30° by day. 

27. South wind, alternating with calms. Thunder in the distance 

could be heard the whole day long, 

28. Alternating calms and east wind; thunder; thermometer 

standing at 30° by day. 

30. Morning—calm : thermometer 30|°, reduced at noon to 274° 
by a violent storm of rain. 

May. 

1-4. In the morning a regular N. E. wind; then towards noon 
calm; and oppressively hot (32°-33°) with continued 
thunder. In the evening wind S. W., and rain in the 
night. 

5. In the forenoon, on the way to Nancowry, the most oppres¬ 
sive heat that I ever suffered on the islands. Thunder¬ 
storm at noon. 

6-10. In Nancowry harbour a variable but generally S. IV. wind. 

The sky mostly overcast. Scarcely an hour without 
showers of rain which, especially at night time, became 
very heavy. Violent thunder storm. 

11-15. Alternating rain and bright sunshine. 

16. Cloudy weather with but little rain. 

17-19. Alternating clear weather and fearful storms of rain. 

20-24. South-west wind and frequently stormy; rain unceasing 
day and night. 


Considering that these climatic conditions are to a certain extent 
the same on all the islands, while the geological constitution is very 
variable, it is to be suspected that the differences in the vegetation of 
the islands are principally connected with the latter. A study of the 
geographical distribution of plants on these islands would certainly 
give interesting results regarding the influence of the soil upon vege¬ 
tation. I have already noticed the characteristic difference, that some 
of the islands are covered with a dense forest, and others with grass 

21 



V 


( 162 ; ) 


only. The five different formations, the distribution of which I have 
attempted to show on the map, so far as it was possible, produce four 
kinds of soil quite distinct one from the other. 

The most recent marine alluvium consists, as we have seen, almost 
solely of fragments of corals and shells, and therefore of carbonate of lime. 
The coral limestone besides this contains also some oxide of iron, 
phosphate of lime (as I ascertained by analysis), and probably also silica 
and magnesia. The small quantity of fragments of older rocks in 
the upper beds of these islands constitutes the only difference between 
this soil and that obtained from purely coral islands. It is also the 
same for every one of the islands, and extends in a narrow strip along 
the coast, between the sea and the hills; in some places it has already 
connected two islands into one, as to all appearance on Tillangchong 
and Little JNicobar, with the latter of which the Island Milu will most 
likely be some day connected in a similar manner. On the northern 
islands this most recent land appears to have the greatest extension; 
the area is indeed small as compared with that of the high land, but it is 
important, being apparently the only inhabited part of the island and 
supplying food to the present population, with the exception of the little 
known tribe in the interior of Great Nicobar. I have mentioned the 
characteristic swamps which are connected with the formation of the 
alluvial ground, I mean the salt water or mangrove-swamps on such 
places of the coast, where the regular accumulation of coral frag¬ 
ments cannot take place, and the Pandanus -swamps originated from 
the former after their communication with the sea has been cut off. 
With these exceptions the flat land is principally occupied by the cocoa 
and the other plantations of the natives. 

Those islands are certainly the most fertile which are formed by 
the brown coal formation described above. The sandstone and sjate 
composing it are with their calcareous constituents easily decomposed, 
and the surface of the mountains are for the most, part covered with 
soil several feet thick, consisting of a mixture of micaceous sand and 
clay, and more or less altered fragments of calcareous rocks. At the base 
of the hills and in the valleys this stratum is naturally thickest, and 
forms here, so to say, a passage to the alluvium formed by the detritus 
qf those hills. 

Great and Little Nicobar, Ratchall, and all other smaller islands 
belonging to this group are covered everywhere with forest, with the 
exception of a few precipices. The species of Ficus may be considered as 
predominant among the lofty foliage-trees. On Little Nicobar, where 
the natives have made a path through the forest to facilitate communi¬ 
cation with the opposite coast of the island, I saw some of these trees 
of an enormous size; I do not know whether they were the same as the 
Ficus Indica , but they showed like the banian tree, long-stretchino- 
branches sending roots to the ground and thus causing new stems to 
be formed. The isolated banian trees in India are not so much distin¬ 
guished for their height, as for the horizontal extent of their branches ; 
being always supported by newly formed stems. 




t 163 } 


But in the interior of this forest the close confinement by the sur¬ 
rounding trees caused these to grow to an unusually great height, to obtain 
'sufficient light for the development of their leaves. I was several times 
surprised to find that slender trees,, each as large as a good-sized beech, 
when I followed the stem upwards, proved to belong to a foliage crown 
common to several others, and, therefore, being only a part of one indivi¬ 
dual tree. Similarly characteristic of the luxuriant growth is the 
peculiar development of the roots, which these and many other trees 
possess; they sometimes form flattened segments above the ground, pro¬ 
jecting like buttresses from all sides of the stem, and leaving stalls 
between, in which several people could find room. Besides, there are 
many other smaller trees of the same kind, among which some are 
distinguished by large yellow fruit, similar in shape to the Sycamore figs. 

Besides the different kinds of FicuS the Dipte'rocarpa are among the 
largest trees. Of Terminalia there are several species, among these 
T. catappa. I may also mention the genera fiauhinia, ClarodendrOn , Boe/i- 
meria , Celtes, Baringtonia speciosa, and Hernandia ovigera. Where the 
hills reach to the coast and no alluvium intervenes, groups of Casiiarincc 
are often seen in the neighbourhood of precipices. The higher palms of 
the genus Areca are, however, not so common here as on the northern 
islands. The foliage-trees are everywhere the most prevalent; their 
thick foliage actually keeps the hilly ground in permanent shade, undet 
which only such plants grow as do not require direct light for their deve¬ 
lopment. Several Cryptogamic plants appear to be especially suited to this 
half dark and damp atmosphere. One meets there that surprising object— 
the tree ferns, with their fine, regular crown of foliage, also small ornament- 
ill Lycopodia (among which are L. elegans,phlegmaria). Most commonly, 
however, the ferns are seen as epiphytes on the gigantic stems of trees; 
a Polypodium ( P . nidus) with broad leaves is especially common on old 
half-rotten stems; orchids (Deiidrobium) appear to be rare on these islands. 
It is alsU not uncommon to find in these shady spots various other 
plants sometimes forming regular networks round the stems, and in 
other places hanging down in great masses. The most common creepers 
of this kind are those belonging to the Asclepiadce and Bignonicc. 
Besides these there are climbing Cissus , Cissampelos, Ficus, Menispermum , 
Tournefortia, Cassyta. Some kinds of Calamus* or Botanys also flourish 
in the forest of the southern islands, making it impossible to penetrate 
through the underwood on account of their hooked thorns. 

The primeval forest of the southern Nicobars is certainly distin¬ 
guished, not only by the great height of the trees, but also by its density; 
from most of the other forests of the kind in these latitudes. I have 
heard of travels in the Malayan forest executed on foot, and even on 
Pulo Penang, where there is a good road through the forest up to the 
top of the mountain ridge, it was generally no particular difficulty to go 
into the forest by the road side. On Little and Great Nicobar this was 
literally impossible. The places which I visited were, therefore, mostly 


* One of them was considered by KamplioVener as new, and was named by hi ill 
t\ reyU-DauiiE- 





1 


( 164 ) 

those where either no large trees existed or where they had been clear¬ 
ed away; and here the vegetation generally had, on account of suffi¬ 
cient light being admitted, assumed a different character. I have 
already noticed the banks of rivers on Great Nicobar, where low trees 
and bushes occupy the outer edge of the forest. If one proceeds 
up the little stream on Little Nicobar, as far as it is possible to go by boats, 
and then follows a path, one reaches a rather extensive free space, from 
which the natives probably obtained the timber for their canoes. Here 
grow numerous soft and juicy, and rather large, grasses belonging to the 
genera Panicum, Eleusine, Acrosticum, with different ferns, Labiatoe and 
Leguminosce, and several species of Justicia. The tree ferns are also here 
more common; but the chief ornaments of these places, surrounded with 
high forest, are the small trees and bushes with thin fresh, green, and 
sometimes magnificent flowers. To these especially belong the Melastomee, 
of which here, as generally in the Malayan country, there are a great 
number of species; further the Mimosoe, and plants belonging to the 
genera Jasminum, Inga, Ixora , Vitex, Cassia . A climbing Convolvulus 
often covers the bushes at the outer edge of the forest, and relieves the 
eye from the dark interior filled with rotten stems and the network of 
epiphytes and rolangs . 

The above-mentioned alluvial land through which the rivers flow 
in the southern part of Great Nicobar and the corresponding one on 
Little Nicobar, also belong to this class. We have seen that each of 
them consists of three distinct parts, each indicating a stage in the forma¬ 
tion of this new land; as first, the outer edge regularly flooded by salt 
water and characterized by the mangroves; secondly, the part often 
flooded by the river where the Nipa fructicans is particularly common; 
and lastly, the inner higher portion. The further one proceeds up the 
river the denser he finds the forest vegetation ; but in general the trees 
are not so high as on the mountains, the underwood is not so thick, and 
there are many kinds of juicy grass to be found. One observes especially 
many magnificent groups of Pandanus, also some cocoa-palms, which are 
used by the natives of the coast, and probably even planted by them. 

If we now turn to the northern islands we find a perfectly different 
soil. As the plutonic rocks are much less subject to decomposition than 
the calcareous sandstones and slates, the layer of soil must con¬ 
sequently be much thinner. Its chemical qualities depend of course upon 
those of the rock from, which it is derived, and vary with the same. In 
general, however, we can suppose that the percentage of alkalies, obtained 
from the decomposition of the felspathic constituents, is favorable to 
vegetation. On the other hand, the magnesian clay (seep. 129; belonging 
to the older alluvium appears to be deprived of the principal conditions 
of fertility. On the Islands of Nancowry, Carmorta and Trincuttee these 
varieties of soil are found together, because some of their hills are formed 
of the plutonic rocks, and others of the older alluvium. Among the last, 
there are some in which the conglomerate prevails, while most of them 
are of that sterile clay. There can be no doubt that this variation of the 
soil is the cause of the changes of forest and of grassy plains, which make 
the view round Nancowry harbour so pleasant. I have found that 
generally the clay-hills are covered only with grass, while the forest 


( »«5 ) 

partly occupies tlie hills of plutonic rocks, partly the valleys between 
them, in which masses of varied soil accumulate, and a greater 
humidity exists. This forest also is generally not so dense as that on 
the southern islands; while on the other hand it probably contains a 
larger variety of forms. Among the large trees there are to be found 
many Ficus, besides several kinds of Euphorbiace cb, Acanthaces , Apocynes, 
Laurines, Leguminoss , and at the edge of precipices again the Casuarins. 
Further the genera Groton , Celtes, Terminalia, Sapindus, Glerodendron, 
Canarium and Cerbera . The grass vegetation occupying the greatest 
part of these islands is very luxuriant in the valleys, and at the base 
of hills, but it becomes gradually thinner and lower towards the 
top. In the damp places many soft grasses may occur; but on crests 
of hills, where the dry magnesian clay appears at the surface from 
below the soil, and is partly covered with a coarse ferruginous sand, 
while all the finer particles of clay are washed down into the valleys by 
the showers, there are generally only dry silicious Gr amines and Cyperaces 
to be met with. The numerous species mostly belong to Panicum■, 
Agrostis , Eleusinc, Chloris, E asp alum, Mariscus, Gynerium, Andropogon , 
Fimbristylis, Kyllingia; on the crest especially occur Saccharines (the 
famous Lallang of the Malays) and the Cyperacece of the Scleria 
group. 

The low trees and bushes which characterize the few open spots on 
the southern islands, appear more generally and of greater variety in 
similar localities of the northern islands. When I with difficulty got 
through the forest, and reached an open grassy space, I found myself 
occasionally, as if I had been in a garden, surrounded with a selection 
of flowers of the Melastomata , Jasmin , Mimoss, Cassis, Ixors, Ardesis , 
Malvaces and Solanes. Pandanes and palms, which are the characteristic 
' ornaments of the forest, are also never wanting. Pandanus, strictly 
speaking, is found everywhere in the forest and in open places; on 
swampy ground they grow thick and succulent, as I have noticed 
when speaking of the swamp in the interior of Milu; but those which 
are found scattered singly on the dry ridges of the grassy hills appear 
to belong to another species; they are of about the same height as 
the former, but much more slender throughout; often provided with 
large fruit of a beautiful bright red color. In the shady parts of the 
forest are to be found the stemless palms, belonging to Zalacca and the 
ornamental Areca catechu; the pigmy palms which occur in the hill 
forests of Pulo Penang* I do not remember to have seen on these islands. 
The largest Areca- palms (specially the A. Nibong) is found everywhere 
exactly as the Pandanus . Their stems of 80 feet height rise above the 
other forest trees, forming isolated groups near the top of the hills; 
and one can truly say that the picturesque scenery which they produce 
will remain permanently in the recollection of every visitor to those 
islands. 

I also visited the northern group of Islands, Terressa, Bompoka 
and Tillangchong. Terressa appears in a geological point of view to be 
composed of the most various kinds of materials. Its hills are not very 
high, and are partly covered with grass, partly with wood. Bompoka 
is ^tolerably high in proportion to its size. The central mountain ridge 


( 166 ) 


descends at first very steeply, but slopes more gradually below. 
Therefore it is that only the lower part appears to be covered with 
wood, while the upper steep peak seems overgrown with grass. I have 
given a small sketch of this island on account of this characteristic 
form. I did not visit the crater-like valley which is situated upon the 
summit, and probably no one else has; but if is seen pretty clearly, when 
the island is observed from the south, that it is circularly enclosed and 
has no direct outlet. The moisture of the ground may well be the cause 
of the luxuriant wood vegetation which prevails all round the edges. The 
island, notwithstanding its small size, is distinguished from the others 
by the unusual quantity of fresh water which remains in the small 
streams even during the dry season. I cannot say whether it may be 
presumed that the valley forms a reservoir and supplies these by means 
of cracks. I have not met on the island with any more recent plutonic or 
volcanic rocks, but chiefly compact serpentinous gabbro. Tillang- 
chong is, relatively to its size, the highest and most craggy of these 
islands. The surface is flattest above, and slopes down the sides 
precipitously until it forms an almost perpendicular cliff; on this account 
the forest vegetation which is thickest at top decreases with the slope* 
until on cliffs actually precipitous the growth of vegetation becomes 
impossible. At the external edge of the forest I observed among the 
fallen and half-rotten trees especially many Casuarinae. 

a 

» ■ • , * ; 

Finally, I append the following general remarks regarding the fauna* 

of the islands from the reports prepared by the Zoologists of the expedi¬ 
tion, Professors Behn, Reinhardt, and Kjellerup. 

The isolated situation of the group of islands, and the small area 
they possess, led us to suspect a paucity of mammalia. A small long¬ 
tailed monkey inhabits the forest of the southern islands; I have seen 
it wild myself on the trees, find also young ones caught by the natives. 
They often do much damage to the more distant cocoa plantations, 
by biting off the young nuts to obtain the water from them. 
Where there are no huts near, the palms generally are without nuts. 
A large kind of buffaloe is found on Carmorta, but strangely there only. 
Neither Pastor Rosen, during his stay on the islands, nor Professor Behn* 
who made a special tour in the interior of the island, were successful in 
seeing the animal; but it is certain that the natives kill several of them 
every year. Of the horns which they preserve one weighed 7 to 8 pounds*; 
their foot marks were six inches broad and long, and the distance from one 
to the other 5 feet. Their existence appears greatly to depend on the 
accumulation of fresh water in the northern part of the island during 
the dry season, and their increase to be limited by this. According to 
Rosen's opinion, they have not been introduced by European colonists; 
but on the other hand it would seem strange that, if aborigiual, they do 
not occur on Great Nicobar, where the quantity of fresh water, especially 


* For an account of the Fauna see Mr. E. Bly til’s paper in the Journal Asiat. Soc. 
Bengal, vol. xv, 1846, p. 367, and also the results of the Austrian expedition “ Reise de 
Osterreichischen Fregatte “ Novara,” Wissenschaftlicher Theil, ” published by a Committee 
of the Vienna Academy of Science. 









View of the Island Eambuka. 

(Proms Rink's JVisco b ar Is IxxrvoLs. ) 










































I 


























/ — 












* 



















' 





■ 















. 

mBu 










» 



































• 





































































( 167 ) 


in the southern river, is much larger. The pigs running about in the 
forest appear to have been originally kept by the inhabitants, and to have 
afterwards become wild. Mice and rats seem to be common. On Car- 
Nicobar an animal of the Murinee is found, which injures the cocoa-palms, 
and is, therefore, persecuted by the natives. The caves on the southern 
islands swarm with bats, and the large kinds of Pleropus, which chiefly 
live on the fruits of Panel anus, I have observed hanging on the trees on 
Nancowry; many were shot by Pastor Rosen. Birds are more numerous 
on the island than mammals. There are a great many pigeons, the 
call of which is heard everywhere in the interior of the forests; some 
are of particular beauty (Caloenas Nicoharicvs) . Small green parrots and 
mamas (Gracula religiosa ) are caught by the natives when young and 
brought for sale to the ships. Along the coast are often seen large fishing 
eagles, and on the dry coral reefs various species of the genera Tetanus , 
Numenius and Charadrius , which generally frequent the coast. Of galli¬ 
naceous birds there is one kind to be found which is a little larger and has 
longer legs than the common guinea fowl, brown, with darker spots, and 
without feathers on the hea.d and the upper paid of the neck. 

The damp thick forests are inhabited by numerous lizards and 
snakes; one meets with them at every step; on the trees occur various 
species of Calotes and Chameleon . On the southern islands and Katchall 
are found Crocodiles ( Croc . hi-porcatus) , though not very common. I 
suspect that their chief resort is along the rivers in the flat land and in 
the mangrove-swamps. During our stay in the haven of Little Nicobar 
the natives killed a very large specimen, for they eat the flesh. I have 
myself never seen them on the islands. According to Rosen a lar ge Python, 
about 12 feet long is said to be common. They were especially dangerous 
to his poultry, and one morning he found one which had nearly swallowed 
up a large cock close to the house. During the day they may be seen in 
the high lallang grass on the hills. Snakes of smaller size are to be met 
with on every excursion into, the forest, but only two species are said to 
be poisonous (/ Trigonocephalus) . I have only once seen a native with a 
swollen leg resulting from the bite of a snake; and cases of death from 
it are said to be very rare. 

The dry season, during our expedition, was less favorable for the 
observation of the Artipulata. It also seems to result from the small 
extent of the islands, and their isolated situation, that a remarkably small 
number of species were found. However, a large number of these animals 
are not wanting, destined to live on organic bodies in the course of 
de-composition. Animal substances are consumed by thelarvue of flies with 
an incredible rapidity. Termites and ants are in endless numbers, and this 
cannot astonish any one who observes the quantity of vegetable matter, the 
forest being actually filled with a large number of fallen trees. Spiders play 
an important part in the destruction of insects; a good many species have 
been found; and among these are distinguished Epeira and Thomisus on 
account of their number, size, magnificent colors and fantastic forms. A 
small scorpion is very common in rotten trees; but centipedes are less 
common. Mosquitos generally are not troublesome, and appear to keep 
to certain localities, especially, as I believe, to the mangrove-swamps 



( 168 ) 


Pastor Rosen mentioned that be was extremely troubled by them on Trin- 
kuttee ; I found this verified in a remarkable manner when once in the 
evening 1 waiting 1 on shore for a boat near the mangrove-swamps. 

Richest in various form of animal life is certainly the sea in the 
immediate neighbourhood of the islands. The coral-reefs, lying t he greater 
part of the day half-dry, are a good collecting ground for various 
Crustacea, Molluscs and Polyps, which remain behind in the shallow pools 
when the sea retreats. They especially gave Mr. Reinhardt an opportu¬ 
nity for collecting a large number of the lower organised animals, 
although his stay was a short one. 


V.—POPULATION AND PRESENT STATE OE CIVILIZATION. 

It has been already mentioned in the previous chapters that, with 
the exception of the wild tribe living in the interior of Great Nicobar, 
only the small border of the latest coral land, which more or less sur¬ 
rounds every island, is inhabited, and that the islands, therefore, in rela¬ 
tion to their present condition of cultivation, only appear as coral islands. 
The Pandanus which thrives everywhere on the islands, but especially in 
swampy places of the coral land, and the cocoa-palms, which are only to 
be found on the extreme edge of the latter along the coast, supply the 
inhabitants with the essential necessaries of life, and enable them to exist. 
I have endeavoured on the accompanying map to distinguish by a blue 
color the extension of this flat land, However small a claim thi& 
illustration (which in any case is rather too favorable than otherwise,) 
may make to accuracy, it will still show that the area of the inhabited land 
is but very small in comparison with that which still lies in its original 
condition. And even that flat land is far from being wholly overgrown 
with useful plants. On the Island Milu we made a path through the 
thickets which separate the cocoa-wood from the foot of the hill, and 
which wholly covers that ground so well fitted for the cocoa-palm ; it was 
a rather lower, but less accessible, forest, on account of the large number of 
thorny rotangs. The cocoa-wood, which always forms the extreme 
border, does not solely consist of cocoa-palms, and is not to be compared 
with a regularly cultivated plantation of cocoa in India. Besides the 
plants used by the natives, hereafter to be mentioned, and which are 
especially to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of the huts, the 
cocoa-palms are intermixed with certain large forest trees, such as Ficus 
religiosa, Hernandia ovigera, Baringtonia speciosa, Terminalia catappa, 
Cerbera odollam, Calophij llum inophyllum. In places one can go about 
freely under the cocoa trees; sometimes the way is closed up more or less 
by high grass and small bushes and winding plants (Panicum , Fleusine, 
P asp alum, various kinds of Justicia, Ipomea, Flagellaria Indica, Bidens, 
Spilanthus, OcymumJ. In some places this wood stretches directly to the 
sea, and the cocoa-palms, or the colossal Baringtonia, undermined by 
springs, bend over it; but as a rule, in front of the wood on the white 
sand bank, springs up a crown of bushes, as Hybiscus tiliaceus, with great 
red and yellow mallow-like flowers, Guettarda speciosa with white plea¬ 
sant-smelling flowers, and a very prevalent Scavola with fresh clear green 
leaves, and finally 'Ihunbergia grandiflora with beautiful blue flowers, (the 
latter only on Great Nicobar). 




( 169 ) 


As a rule one has not to go far along these coasts before the wood 
opens and the huts of the inhabitants show themselves. Their situation 
on the sea coast, and the cocoa-palms surrounding them, already gives an 
idea of the mode of life of their inhabitants. Their architecture reminds 
one most of the Eastern Indian Peninsula, especially in that very usual 
custom of erecting dwellings upon piles ; while their miserable appearance 
indicates at the same time a lower stage of civilization. At a height of 
from 6 to 8 ft. above the ground, on from 12 to 18 piles, a floor is laid, and 
thereupon rises a dome-like roof made of matted palm-leaves, built 
either directly upon the floor, or with an intermediate side wall formed 
of boards or bamboos. A ladder, or the trunk of a tree cut into steps, 
leads to the narrow entrance of this dwelling, which everywhere bears 
the same stamp of simplicity and poverty, (see plate Fig. 1). 


The men who inhabit these huts correspond perfectly in their out¬ 
ward appearance to what one would expect of them from a view of these 
surroundings. They go almost entirely naked; their gait and all their 
movements are sluggish and heavy; their look indicates a high degree of 
phlegm and indolence, and their speech is snorting and heavy. Their 
low stature, their powerful, although coarse, form of body, with broad 
feet, strong limbs, broad shoulders, short neck, their broad face with 
flat nose, large mouth and prominent jaw bone, and finally the brown 
(passing somewhat into a copper-red, but at the same time very uniform,) 
color of their skin would incline one coming from the more civilized parts 
of India to believe that one had arrived at the territory of a new race of 
men ; for in vain would he look here for the noble features, the expressive 
look, the slender graceful stature, and the pleasant demeanour of the 
Hindoos. The Malayan race, of which the Nicobars may perhaps form 
the north-western limit, has, it is well known, no physical relation 
with the Indo-Chinese, but I do not possess the necessary knowledge 
with respect to the Burmese and Siamese to decide whether the Nico- 
barians stand nearer to them than to the Malay. I have heard people 
who had a perfect knowledge of those people of the Eastern Peninsula, 
and of their customs and language, express the same doubts; and 
here especially it is (where no historical or religious tradition, and perhaps 
not even the language, but onty the physical character can lead one to 
conjecture) that that decision is very difficult; this may incidentally serve 
as an example of the gradual transition of the Mongolian race through the 
Indo-Chinese into the Malayan. However, so much is certain that, when 
I first came to Pulo Penang, and after I had seen in the streets of George¬ 
town the great mixture of the various Eastern Asiatic people, and went 
into the Malayan quarter of the town, I was immediately reminded, by 
the poor huts built on pillars and the strongly-built men in their simple 
dress and with a sullen stern countenance, of the inhabitants of these 
islands. 


I have already mentioned that the Pandanus and the cocoa-palms 
supply the Nicobarians with the necessaries of life in the same manner as 
docs the bread-fruit tree on the islands of the South Sea. The Pandanus 
is entirely indigenous to the islands; it belongs to their primeval forest, 
and is never planted or cultivated by the natives. In the swamps of the 
Hat land, which these trees so well characterize by their remarkable forms, 


09 


( 170 ) 


they appear to flourish best; but they are also found everywhere else in 
the clearings of the forest, along the coast between the cocoa-palms, and 
on the dry grassy hills. 

On this account, and also to obtain stems of trees for their canoes, 
the natives have made paths into the interior of the forest. Roxburgh 
(Flora Indica , T. Ill, p. 741) supposed that they belong to P. odora- 
t'mimus; but there certainly appear to be two species of which the 
fruit is used. 

The same plant is found in various parts of India, but perhaps no¬ 
where in such quantity and of such size ; it is also cultivated to form 
hedges and, especially in Mauritius, to obtain fibre from the leaves 
for matting and bags; the fruit is also said to be locally added to their 
other eatables; but with the exception of the Nicobars there is probably 
no other place where it replaces the bread-fruit tree or corn. The oval 
fruit of one foot or more in length, consists of numerous separate angular 
wedge-shaped parts, red or orange, and partially separating from each other 
when ripe; they have then a sweetish taste, similar to that of yellow 
carrots, but on account of their toughness they cannot be eaten raw. 
When cooked and beaten up, the farinaceous mass between the fibres flows 
out, and is used as a pudding (called mellovi by the Portuguese). 

Just as the Patidanus characterizes the fresh-water swamps, so do 
the cocoa-palms the coral land on the external edge along the coast. 
Where this is not too low, so as to become mangrove-swamp, these palms 
are never absent. They are, therefore, certainly indigenous on the islands, 
but they owe their greater extension and development to protection by the 
natives, for it is all the wealth and enjoyment they possess. Beside the 
common cocoa-palm, a rare variety occurs, the fruits of which are filled 
altogether with kernel; I recollect having seen it only once. The trees are 
generally very close to each other, near the huts they are no doubt always 
planted, and as long as they are young they are protected by fences 
against the animals, especially the pigs; in eight years they begin to 
produce fruit, and do not then require any protection. 

• ' 

I have above attempted to give by a sketch an idea of the construction 
of a Micobar hut, and selected for that purpose one of the best built in 
the purest style. I do not pretend to decide the class of architecture to 
which it belongs; but though the inventor may first have had a model of 
a beehive, and appears to have at the same time selected the most simple 
kind of pillars, still, on a close examination, not a small amount of art and 
conformity to fixed purpose will be found in the construction of the 
building. If one climbs up the small ladder and gets into the room he 
finds it similar to the external shape of the hut, no partitions or furniture 
interfere with the view. Although this place is generally occupied by 
two or three families, the Nicobarians do not consider it necessary (I 
heard afterwards that they would even consider it a crime) to render social 
communication difficult by partitions. Beside some few implements for the 
chase and for fishing, put up under the roof, one generally observes the fire¬ 
place at the back of the room, made of sand and stones in a hollow of the 
floor, and over which are placed large earthen pots ready for the preparation 









( 171 ) 


of mellori. The total want of windows is also remarkable; for the small 
hole by which one enters serves for all other purposes of admitting- light, 
letting out the smoke, &c. However, one will find the half dark place at 
the same time agreeably cool, because, with the light, the large amount 
of heat reflected from the white coral sand is also excluded. They also 
assert that the want of a chimney is not only a saving of labor 
(which is highly valued by the Nicobarians), but that it produces, under 
the peculiar condition, a healthy atmosphere, the admixture of smoke 
neutralizing the dangerous vapours of the forest. The frame of the 
curved roof, made of Nipa (Atap) or Pandanus leaves, consists of bent 
sticks of fotang; it is very regularly constructed, and on account of its 
solid structure it does not permit either the sun's rays or the rain to 
enter. The raising on pillars further prevents the damp rising from 
below, admits a free current of air, and keeps the place clear of all kind of 
noxious animals. To estimate the whole work fairly one must also con¬ 
sider that there is not the slightest trace of iron, even a nail, in the whole 
building*, and that the construction is simply made by the help of a large 
Malay knife. I believe, therefore, that European settlers on these islands 
first must adopt the Nicobar hut as a model for their house. This would 
certainly be the most appropriate and simplest way of avoiding the dan¬ 
gerous influence of the climate, at least as regards this part of the mode 
of life. The erection of such a building is the greatest and most labo¬ 
rious piece of work which the inhabitants undertake, and they never 
attempt the task without careful deliberation and long preparation. 
.During our stay in the haven of Little Nicobar I had an opportunity of 
witnessing its importance. We had bought three huts from the inhabi¬ 
tants, and to inaugurate the great ceremony of beginning anew building 
great festivities were in preparation, to which a large number of people 
from other parts of the island were invited. All the people fit for any 
work from the neighbourhood of the harbour participated in this, and 
urged it as an excuse when I asked them to do anything for me. 

Next to these occupations the Nicobarians have directed their attention 
to navigation and fishing. The huts are all situated on the shore, and the 
first thing one observes on landing is their canoes, which are drawn up on 
land when not in use, and covered with cocoa leaves as a protection against 
the sun. The hollowed-out trunk of a tree is here, as usually where 
navigation is yet in its infancy, the only means of communication 
between the different islands. They vary in length from 6 to 40 feet, and 
in one of the latter size 20 people can find room. To prevent the turn¬ 
ing over of the boat two bars are fastened square to it, projecting 4 to 6 feet 
from the side, and at the end connected by a third and larger bar parallel 
to the boat, and thus keeping it in equilibrium. The people of Ceylon, and 
I think the Burmese and some of the Malayan tribes, also have this 
arrangement in their boats. On longer voyages they put up 5 to 6 small 
masts of bamboos with the sails made up of palm leaves sown together, 
and the ropes are of rotang , but the general mode is to use paddles of 
about three feet in length, with which they can indeed move about the boat 
with wonderful rapidity. The coral-reefs, which during high tide are 
covered by shallow water, form the principal fishing ground of the Nicoba- 
rians; they use for this small canoes; one man generally sits behind and 


( m ) 


paddles, the other in front is always ready with his harpoon. This instru¬ 
ment consists of a bamboo stick with an iron fork at the end. I have 
several times admired how ably they discover and strike fishes swimming 1 
near, the surface. The abundance of very good fish is perhaps the cause 
that their fishing apparatus is so simple and defective. Among others 
the Mackerel family are numerous, and species of Scams , Acanthurus, 
Hemiramphus and Belone. Of the numerous crabs and molluscs to be 
found on the coast they also know how to make some good dishes. The 
largest hermit crab I ever saw was one with which I was once entertained 
in a hut on Nancowry. A large kind of lobster also appears to be common. 
They are also said occasionally to eat the large Tridacnce. A small 
oyster (? Ost. cucullata) is often seen during low water attached to 
stones on Little Nicobar, and I have also seen a very large one (0. 
hyotis) in the Nancowry harbour with the natives. 

From the consideration of these principal sources of subsistence of 
the Nicobarians,—the cocoa palms, the Pandanus , and the fishing,—let us 
again return to their domestic life, the huts in which they consume the 
produce of their diligence, and after the day^s work enjoy their leisure in 
the circle of their family. The produce of the cocoa-palm appears here 
constantly in various forms. How many times have I refreshed myself 
with the cool water of the cocoanuts after I had returned from a 
tour in the hot sun to the coast! The Nicobarians themselves under¬ 
stand the value of this; I have never seen them drink any other water, 
and one does not observe anywhere wells or other kind of reservoirs. 
They use for this purpose young green nuts in which the kernel is only 
half developed yet, and rarely possess a stock of them in the house, but 
get them generally fresh from the tree every time they feel thirsty. For 
this purpose they have steps cut in the stem on which they mount as on 
a ladder; it is natural that they have great practice in this as well as 
in opening the nuts, which is done by two or three strokes with the Malay¬ 
an knife. This cocoanut water replaces with them the common well water 
as well as tea and coffee; but the Nicobarians, like most other nations, 
have come to the conclusion that, besides quenching the thirst, it is pos¬ 
sible to associate with drinking a certain stimulus to life, which can be 
obtained only from drinking, and this too is supplied to them by the 
grateful cocoa-palm. I will not decide whether their own instinct or the 
example of other more cultivated nations has taught them this ; but it 
is certain that by cutting open the efflorescense of the cocoa-palm thev 
obtain a quantity of a saccharine juice, the fermentation of which they 
know how to induce as well as any chemists. This palm-wine is obtained 
fresh in the morning, a very sweet and agreeable, but for Europeans 
certainly a very dangerous, beverage; by the evening it has already 
become strongly intoxicating, and it also becomes rapidly sour. They 
collect it in hollow cocoanuts hung upon the tree under the flower stalk ; 
they then pour it into larger bamboo vessels from which they brino* it 
up again by a siphon on to a filtering cloth. 

The kernel of the nuts when half ripe is, beside the mellori , the daily 
food of the Nicobarians ; and with the ripe kernels they feed their domes¬ 
ticated animals, fowls, dogs and pigs, which are running half wild about 
the huts. It is, therefore, not to be wondered at that they look upon the 


( 173 ) 


cocoa-palm as the finest product of nature, that they do not consider any¬ 
thing’ worse than injury done to that tree, and that the form of their 
earthen pots and their baskets is borrowed from that of the upper half of 
the cocoanut shell, and, as I would almost be inclined to believe, the form 
of the roof on their houses from that of the lower half. 

Besides this, various other plants are cultivated by the natives, such 
as do not require any particular care. One observes, generally, in the 
neighbourhood of houses under the cocoa-palms, or on open places in the 
forests, also in the interior of the islands, in valleys, and the lower parts of 
the hilly ground, small gardens, the size and cultivation of which generally 
indicate the industry and the prosperity of the proprietor. Under the 
cocoa-palms is often to be found a species of Ci/cas, from the fruit of which, 
of the size of a heir’s egg, they obtain a kind of paste similar to the mellori; 
but seldom, because the preparation is more laborious. More common are 
the Pisangs , (plantains) of which there are several kinds, but mostly the 
largest and coarsest are planted. They are also occasionally seen growing 
wild in the forest; the plant is then very long and slender, and the fruit 
filled with hard kernels not eatable. Of plants, of which roots are obtained, 
mostly two species are seen, Colocasia Indica and Calladium nymphoco- 
folium ; they are also planted near the huts, but without any particular 
care, and supply only an inferior and coarse material for food. Further, 
we must mention the betel plant, of great importance for the natives, it 
grows both wild and cultivated. Tobacco was found only exceptionally, 
though this plant is considered equal to ready money on these islands. 
The most important spices used by the Nicobarians are some kinds of 
Capsicum , and the sour fruit of a wild Amomum. Pine-apples grow half 
wild, and attain to great perfection in spite of the little care which the 
natives bestow upon them, because they attach only a small value to the 
fruit. A large green variety is common; it has not got the usual fine 
flavour, but is, on the other hand, the more juicy and sweet. The papaya 
tree is found on nearly all the islands, and so is sugar-cane, although the 
Nicobarians do not understand how to prepare sugar from it, but only chew 
it raw. I will lastly mention a few cultivated plants which are occasion¬ 
ally seen near the huts, and were probably introduced by some accident, 
but to which little attention is paid by the natives; these are lemons and 
citrons, a kind of orange, with small red fruit introduced by the Moravian 
Brethren, solitary guava trees, mangoe, Anona; Artocarpus incisa (only 
on Car-Nicobar), Bixa orellana , Janipa maniliot. 

Cultivation of any kind of corn is unknown to the Nicobarians, 
neither do they make any attempt to obtain, by the introduction of seeds 
or of plants, the products which they know and value in their intercourse 
with foreigners, such as rice and tobacco, nor do they try to improve the 
cultivation of those plants which they know already. Seeds of various 
cultivated plants offered to them they refused with indifference. The 
Pandanus, as already mentioned, grows wild, and the help which nature 
o*ives them in growing the cocoa-palm requires only a small addition of 
Tabor on their part. The other plants, and especially the Pisang (plan¬ 
tain) , they plant themselves, if they accidentally find an open place in 
the forest; they make for this purpose a hole in the ground with a knife. 
One cannot wonder, seeing this state of their principal occupation, 




( 174 ) 


agriculture, that all their other industrial products bear in a high degree 
the character of simplicity, and appear to be calculated only to remedy 
the pressure of absolute necessity. Of this kind are the earthen pots 
for cooking; their fabrication is limited to the small Island Chowry, 
which supplies all the other islands with this article; it is therefore also 
the most populated, and they even say, though it sounds improbable, that 
the manufacturing industry here also produces the well-known dispropor¬ 
tion which induces to emigration. The pots are peculiar ; all of the same 
form of the half of a cocoanut shell, and, in proportion to their size, are 
light and thin. Besides this, basket-making is a common occupation of 
the Nicobarians, and especially of the women; they use for this purpose 
the rotang , and give to the basket also the shape of a cocoanut; they are 
without cover, and the opening is, when used, especially when fowls are 
kept in them, tied up by a string. 

The care of pigs and fowls is further the daily occupation of the 
inhabitants; although they esteem pork very highly, they consider it 
such a great labor to catch and fatten the pigs, that they devote this 
trouble only to peculiar festivals; generally the pigs are seen wild, and 
are hunted by the natives with spears. Those which are about the 
houses are carefully fed with cocoanut kernels in troughs prepared for 
the purpose. They thrive very well on this food, and a fat pig, ready 
to be killed, is the pride of its owner both on account of the labor 
which he has expended upon it, and on account of the pleasures which its 
meat promises to afford. 

Of how to spin and weave and prepare cloth the Nicobarians are 
perfectly ignorant. The little clothing they wear is one of the necessities 
which force them to an intercourse with other nations. Only on Great 
Nicobar we met with a kind of cloth prepared by hammering the 
bark of the Celtis tree; it is probably an invention of the savages who 
inhabit the interior, who never have had any intercourse with other 
nations; it was, moreover, found in their houses which we visited. Of 
the necessary articles which are imported, metallic implements come first, 
especially the Malayan knife or axe, with which they open their cocoanuts 
and build their huts and canoes. But their spears for killing pigs and 
the buffaloes on Carmorta, as well as the harpoons for fishing, are very 
peculiarly constructed, and are forged by themselves. They also know 
how to work up the silver which they obtain from ships into rings, and 
as they never give that metal away again, a considerable quantity of it 
has accumulated on the islands. Gold, however, they appear not to know 
at all. 

What mental development can one expect from a people to which 
nature in this way offers the requirements for mere physical life; whose 
small society is isolated by the sea from other nations; whose home 
is not visited by any hostile natural condition calling forth their power 
and energy ! In order to judge this properly it would be necessary to 
know more accurately, in addition to these external influences, the original 
character of that race from which they are descended. The Nicobarians 
stand, as regard their physical characters, between the Malays and 
Burmese. A thorough knowledge of the Nicobar, as well as the Malayan 


( 175 ) 


(Indo Chinese) languages, in connection with a study of the inherited 
manners of these nations, would be the only, but at same time most diffi¬ 
cult, means of discovering the home of the first, whether Burmese or 
Malayan-settlers in the Nicobar Archipelago. In any case, they appear 
to have greatly degenerated on account of their isolated situation, for 
neither of the religion nor of the civil institutions of those nations does 
there seem to have remained the slightest trace. I shall here limit my 
observations to the following facts. 

The Nicobarians are in general of medium size and strong frame of 
body; sometimes athletic fellows are seen among them. Although one 
meets among them features quite similar to those among the Malays, it 
appears to me that I more frequently found among them a better counte¬ 
nance than among the latter. There were some young men among them 
extremely well built. As a rule, however, the mode of their outfit and 
supposed ornaments gives them a hideous and wild appearance. The whole 
costume of the men consists in a strip of blue cloth two inches broad ; the 
women wear a larger piece of the same cloth similar to the sarong of the 
Malays. The latter generally cut off the hair of the head entirely 
while the men tie their long black hair with bands of bast . On festive 
occasions they hang wreaths of fresh foliage round their necks, or if 
possible necklaces of pearls or of silver coins. But most hideous 
is the manner in which they disfigure their teeth and their mouth, and 
which, as far as I know, is not found in any other nation. The frequent 
use of betel and lime in the first place gives them black teeth; this they 
attempt to increase by rubbing; they file off the enamel, and by manipu¬ 
lation with some kind of acid juices, they produce such an effect that the 
teeth swell to a spongy mass, and the front teeth combine with each other. 
In some individuals this does not succeed, but in others the incisors are 
actually changed into one continuous mass which projects from the 
mouth, because the lips cannot close on account of its large size. If 
you imagine such a mouth, covered at the same time with all kinds of 
chewed betel leaves, a face smeared with pork-fat and colored with reddish 
ochre, a cigar in each ear in place of the earring, you have a Nicobarian 
d la mode before you. 

I have heard many different languages spoken, but none of them 
had so disagreeable a sound as the Nicobarian. The great number of 
guttural and nasal sounds, the uneducated drawling pronunciation, 
becoming still more difficult on account of the disfigured mouth, makes 
a very disagreeable impression. According to the opinion of those who 
know the Burmese, as well as the common Malayan dialect, no marked 
relation is said to exist between these languages and the Nicobarese. 
The French Missionaries, who were a few years ago on Terressa, must have 
spoken it rather fluently ; a dictionary which they prepared contained 
names for abstract ideas which one would hardly believe to exist in the 
conception of these people. I mention here, as an example, only a few 
words which I have myself heard from the natives, and which I find noted 
in my diary :— Nji , house; dud , boat; kamamla , sea; mifhouaid , heaven 
(sky) ; baju, man ; angana , woman; jenong, cocoanut; hibuga , pisang; 
cod , head; mo ah, knife; mangas, stone; Jceidurna, large knife; tjiong, ship, 
unshongha , to go; ungha , to eat; hnmbaitsja, small; Jcji, I; mat, thou ; 


( I™ ) 


isang kji , mine ; isang mce, thine ; joot kjun wd, where do you go to; joot 
jo tol ijoong, I go on board of the ship ; jo katog ita, I remain here. The 
numerals are 1, hang; 2, ah; 3, loti; 4, foan ; 5, tanein ; 6, tafuet; 
7, isat ; 8 , onfoan ; 9, htinghata ; 10, sam; 11, samlmng ; 12, sam ah ; 
fyc., Sfc. Most of them count only up to 10, and the expressions for the 
higher numerals are very complicated. 

The Nicobarians appear to have scarcely anything corresponding to 
a state constitution. They stand towards each other on terms of perfect 
equality, and the women share all privileges with the men. That some 
among them call themselves captains or chiefs, who, through wealth and 
cunning, distinguish themselves above the rest in trade, and understand 
better how to traffic with Europeans, appears to be only a distinction in 
relation to Europeans; they can by such qualities, and by their superiority 
in physical force, certainly gain the esteem of their countrymen and 
thereby exercise much influence over them; but they possess, according to 
all appearances, no authority/^?* se ; they even make themselves sometimes 
ridiculous in the eyes of all the rest by their endeavours to imitate 
Europeans in dress and manners. These characteristics may indeed 
appear striking in comparison with the corresponding facts in the state of 
surrounding countries, but they can easily be explained by the isolat¬ 
ed situation of the islands, and in consequence the small intercourse with 
other nations, as well as by the few necessities, the lazy character of the 
inhabitants, and the utter dulnessof their affections ; and they certainly do 
not place them in a superior, but rather in an inferior, position as compared 
with those related nations. They seldom steal anything from each other, 
simply because there is very, little to steal ; and they do not plot any 
evil plans against each other, simply because they do not plot any plans 
at all. Their constitution could perhaps be best compared with the 
patriarchal, in which family relations are predominant. This is especi¬ 
ally the case on the southern islands, which are the least inhabited, and 
where there is no cocoanut trade with Europeans. The people live here 
in scattered huts; they appear to have common property in the cocoa- 
palms, and they seem altogether to be in the lowest condition. On the 
northern islands, on the contrary, there obtains a strictly separated 
proprietorship in every respect ; but theft is not controlled by defined 
laws ; if the thief cannot be persuaded to give compensation to the man 
from whom he has stolen anything, the latter must try to obtain satis¬ 
faction in a duel with sticks, or by surprise. If one has committed theft 
repeatedly, the other people agree with each other to kill him ; this is 
then carried out on a fixed occasion by a common attack. It is, however, 
remarkable that the Nicobarians distinguish themselves above all eastern 
nations by their treatment of women. Polygamy appears to be perfectly 
unknown among them ; but on the other hand the matrimonial connection 
is not particularly amiable, and separations are the order of the day. The 
marriages are concluded without any ceremonies. If a young man has 
selected a woman, he first keeps to the house of her parents, and should 
they then settle further to share lots with each other, they decide upon 
their future habitation. The usual number of children of swell marriages is 
from five to six; if twins are born one is killed immediately ; the bad care of 
the children causes a great mortality during childhood. Education does 
not much trouble the parents. While the women of the Hindoos and the 


( 177 ) 


Malays are only considered as the property of the men, here they par¬ 
ticipate in their occupations and pleasures, only indeed so far as there 
is anything to share in these respects. It appears to me that the 
oppressed condition of the women of oriental peoples expresses itself in 
their exterior, their small growth, and a certain uniformity in their 
features. The Nicobar women are, on the contrary, of large stature and 
strong constitution, and I have reason to believe that they even occasion' 
ally exercise palpable authority over their men, and that a closer view of 
their matrimonial life would show that the respect of these people 
towards the fair sex did not, strictly speaking, originate in the free-will 
of the men, and is not, therefore, to be considered a virtue. 


As to the rank in which science and arts are held by the Nicobarians, 
one can already conclude from what has been said. Their chief art and 
chief science, as well as industry, are concentrated in the dolce far 
niente. When they have cut their firewood in the forest, brought 
their Pandanus fruit, their cocoanuts, and full flasks of palm-wine, and 
tired by the hard work they have thus undergone, now rest in that half¬ 
dark interior of the hut, and in the most comfortable position they can 
obtain, enjoy the never-satiating odour of tobacco and the juice of the betel, 
what should induce them to move away from these sweet dreams and 
contemplations, except, perhaps, the vessel with palm-wine hanging below, 
or the mellori bread, of which they eat and devour huge pieces ! Unfor¬ 
tunately this cannot last for ever, for Nature, which gives them these 
commodities of life, sends them also occasionally some evil interruptions 
to the quiet course of their life, and thus calls into action their capabilities 
of thought and invention. The Missionaries and Priests who came in 
contact with the Nicobarians have in vain attempted to fy,id out whether 
they possess any idea of a highest being. If questioned about this they 
generally laugh indifferently as if they wanted to ask where would be 
the use of it, or they do not seem to understand the question at all. Of 
any inherited religious belief, as the so-generally known Buddhism 
among the Mongolian population, and before the Mahomedan among the 
Malays, there seems to be no trace. Their ideas of the invisible and 
supernatural are restricted to a dread of beings to whose influence they 
ascribe such unlucky facts as they cannot explain from familiar causes, 
especially illness, accidents during sea-voyages, and (rarely) also the failure 
of the cocoanut crop. These spirits, or hivi, reside in the r ' 'w of the 
forests of the islands, and only occasionally come to their h: ; ons to 

cause illness among the people., &c. Only once I heard a man saying 
that these spirits also produce the growth of the tree. The whole callus 
consists either in conciliating the hivi or in driving it away by force. 
Certain individuals among them, who call themselves Mallies y consider 
the performance of those ceremonies as their special occupation; they 
represent the whole staff of learning; and are priests, physicians, and 
wizards at the same time. 


Their occupation is generally hereditary from father to son, but 
every one else who feels a call to it can take it up by entering on a 
course of instruction with one initiated in the craft. 1 he pupil stays 
during this apprenticeship in the house of the teacher, and must first 
prepare himself by a better and finer diet, especially consisting of fowls, 

23 


( 1.78 



on leaves of the Nibong -palm, and after holding these before the eyes of the 
novice, he leaves him alone with the instruction to look through the holes 
of the floor till similar figures of beasts and men appear before him. If 
this does not happen, he repeats these ceremonies until the young priest 
believes he sees such figures. In cases of illness such a Maine is called in, 
and his cure consists then partly in the administration of certain plants, 
partly in the performance of some superstitious and very grotesque cere¬ 
monies. These people generally possess some authority, and wear as a 
badge of this a special neck-tie; they do not distinguish themselves, 
however, in anything else, and are often subject to persecution if 
unsuccessful in their cures. If several patients die to one Maine the 
people agree to kill him, and the murder is executed treacherously, by one 
coming to him under the pretence of friendship. As fortune-tellers they 
are also consulted, if one intends to make a voyage to a distant island, or 
if a ship is expected. In order to conciliate the hivi various other strange 
ceremonies and offerings are performed which are conducted by these 
priests. One meets everywhere in the huts and sometimes also in the 
forest various collections of pigs' jaws, of branches and plants, besides 
curious burlesque carvings, which must have some reference to these 
spirits. Lastly, there is every year, at the beginning of the dry season, a 
special festival held. A boat, of the size of medium-sized canoes, orna¬ 
mented with masts and sails is carried about in the village, and after the 
hivis have been driven on board of it, it is placed in the sea, and commit¬ 
ted to the mercy of the wind and waves. 

As an expression of their religious ideas, the reverence which they pay 
to their dead may be mentioned. Although they do not possess a clear 
conception of immortality, or at least do not express it, they appear to 
suppose that the soul of the dead at first stays for a time in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the hut in which the man lived. The dead are buried 
together in a place not far from the habitations; over each body is 
afterwards put a post on which are placed the utensils which he daily 
used. When I first came to the village of Malacca on Nancowry, the 
manner in which the natives had ornamented the grave of an En g lish 
sailor boy (who was living with them for several years, and had accepted 
their customs,) with his dress, his axe and his open trunk made quite a 
touching impression. Three months after, a festival is performed in 
honor of the dead, on which occasion the host displays all the luxury 
he can afford. During my stay about Little Nicobar I had an opportu¬ 
nity of being present at such a festival to which I was urgently invited. 
I he host received me on shore, accompanied with several guests, and 
brought me 1o his hut which w 7 as ornamented with fresh cocoa leaves 
and fruits. When 1 got up the ladder, and through the narrow entrance 
from which a most awful noise was heard, I found the room so crowded 
that I hardly could get a place to stand. People from different parts of 
the island, whom I had never before seen near the harbour,, were here 
assembled, sitting beside each other on a bench, and singing really deafen¬ 
ing lamentations. The ceiling and walls of the hut were decorated 
with all the treasures of the host, which only could be brought forward 
on the occasion. One could see in the dim lamplight ^East India 


( 179 ) 


cloth of various colors, coins, and all kind of silver plate with taste¬ 
fully shaped loaves of mellori bread, cocoanuts, plantains and pine¬ 
apples among the fresh foliage. The scene had such an originally 
national character, that 1 mastered the frightful heat and the tobacco 
ttimes in the narrow space to observe it for a few minutes. The host 
had taken the greatest trouble to provide for his guests the best food 
and palm-wine in abundance; above all, the pigs enclosed under the hut 
were his pride, and he counted them before me in a triumphant manner; 
for these cannot be wanting at any such festival. A barbarous custom, 
which however I did not see nryself is, that they run a bamboo pole 
through the neck of the live pig, and then roast it on the fire. The 
following days are spent in constant revelling; the younger folks perform 
dances and fights, and make music on flutes and a kind of a guitar of 
bamboo with the string of rotang; the melodies which they sing during 
this play are not composed without talent, and can be fairly placed on an 
equality with the ordinary music of the Hindoos. After three years the 
corpse is again taken out and brought into the hut; they ornament the 
skeleton, give him a mouthful of brandy, and put a betel-leaf and a 
lighted cigar in his mouth. The same ceremonies are repeated every 
three years, up till seven trienniums, after which no honors are paid to 
the dead. Can any analogy in the customs at these obsequies be traced 
to that of other East Asiatic people? They form almost the only 
instance in the life of these inhabitants, in which they show a care for 
anything beyond the range of their immediate physical necessities. 

The Nicobarians are not acquainted with any kind of signs for their 
words, letters, or numbers. They only count things which occur in com¬ 
merce, especially cocoanuts, and to recollect the numbers they use marks 
in a stick. Not one knows how to tell his age : the time of the day 
they indicate by a reference to the height of the sun, and for this purpose 
either use the first finger or the pointed mouth. Longer periods ol time 
they count according to the seasons or monsoons; but when they relate 
past events, contradiction of confusion often shows itself in their story, 
and the most important determination is always that it is a long, very 
long time since this or that happened. On Little Nicobar I saw with a 
man a small piece of wood in which he had begun to mark by incisions 
the number of weeks since we arrived ; it is, therefore, clear that they also 
count according to the phases of the moon; but as formerly very seldom 
or scarcely at all has any one visited these southern islands, there was no 
by gone event of sufficient importance whereon to found an era. Howevei 
miserable may be the national development, or the historical tradition of 
the Nicobarians, they still consider themselves, to whichever island they 
belong, as a distinct nation, as compared with foreigners, European or 
Asiatic. They have not got a special name for this nation, but they call 
themselves “ baju” that is “men” (the same word also signifies man in 
opposition to angaria, wife), and attach to it only the name of the island if 
necessary. If asked where their fathers came from, they do not knew 
what to answer. But according to Rosen they are said to assert that 
they all came from Great Nicobar [Laoi in Nicobar), and this island is 
not in their language designated with the usual expression foi an island, 
pulonga , but with a special appellation which may designate a continent. 


( 180 ) 





Further, a legend seems to be current among them, which, in any case, 
indicates that they do not possess any pride of ancestry, and that they do 
not trace their origin from gods : a tremendous flood once carried off 
men and beasts; only one man on Laoi saved himself, mounting a high 
tree, and when he looked round after the water receded, he did not find in 
the solitude any other being except a bitch, of which he became enamoured, 
and to this pair the present population owes its origin. 

Although the inhabitants of the different islauds are identical in 
their principal characters, there exist between the northerners and south¬ 
erners some differences, which most probably originated from the influ¬ 
ence exercised upon them by foreign nations through commerce. In 
this respect the general fact exists that only the northern islands are 
visited by European ships, supplying coeoanuts to the Eastern Peninsula 
of India, while the inhabitants of the southern islands only communicate 
with the Malays ; and in the same degree is the population smaller, their 
situation lower and poorer. However, between all the islands there exists 
a constant communication and trade, and I several times wondered at the 
rapidity with which news spread over the various parts. 

The present articles of commerce are, besides coeoanuts, which are 
only exported from the northern islands, the edible birds' nests, ambergris 
and tortoise shell. The birds which supply these nests belong to various 
species of the genus Collocalia, and live principally on the southern islands. 
The sea had made locally in the cliff’s of the soft sandstone large excava¬ 
tions, in which generally large numbers of these birds collect, and the floor 
of which is sometimes covered with a layer of guano from two to three feet 
thick consisting of the harder parts of insects, mixed up with small crys¬ 
tals of gypsum. The nests are very different in quality, because some only 
consist of the glutinous substance ; others contain more or less of impurities. 
As a contribution towards a decision of the question often spoken of re¬ 
garding the origin of the slimy substance, the fact may be mentioned that 
the cliffs in the neighbourhood of such a cave on Bompoka were covered 
with a gelatinous substance, probably an alga, and this had quite the 
taste of the nests. However, they are partly brought to the northern 
islands in exchange, partly sold for a small amount directly to the 
Malays and Burmese, who take them from thence into the Chinese trade. 
Ambergris is also mostly found on the shores of the southern islands, and 
is still highly prized in China; but the Nicobarians often adulterate it, 
especially with dammer resin which is obtained from several forest trees 
(Can arum ), and is also an article of commerce. Besides coeoanuts there 
are also exported from the northern islands aveca-nuts which grow in 
immense quantity; but as the Nicobarians do not take off the shell, which 
it is necessary to do for transport, the profit they might derive from the 
article is diminished. 

In their intercourse with foreigners the Nicobarians do not show any 
particular inclination to cheating, though examples of this kind naturally 
do occur. However, as in the rest of their life, on this occasion also lazi¬ 
ness and indolence prevail, and it always depends on their humour whether 
they feel disposed to offer their services to any one, or whether they enter 
into any trading transaction. Towards foreigners they always keep 
together as one nation. The Malays they hate and fear; still the Malay 











> 











( Fig. 1, page 1 ( 59 .^ 


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(Fig. 2, page 135 .^ 







































( * U J- 4, page 136. J 


A Be 



(Fig. 5, page 142.) 



(Fig. 6 page 150.) 


































; 


\ 





( 181 . ) 


/ 


language is the usual medium of converse with them. It may also serve 
as an example of the former influence of the Portuguese in India, that 
the Nicobarians all more or less understand Portuguese. In their 
intercourse with Europeans they show a ridiculous inclination to 
imitate them, which is perfectly foreign to the allied Asiatic nations, 
and characterizes their low childish grade of civilization. Nothing can 
make them more happy than European clothing, and they appear to have 
particularly noticed that which is most peculiar and most different 
from that of Asiatic people, namely the hat. Besides this, they are 
fond of taking European names, and often call themselves captains; on 
Car-Nicobar there is among others a Lord Byron and a Lord Nelson. 
When they are among themselves or with other Asiatic-born people such 
cumbrous dresses and honors are immediately laid aside. I have already 
mentioned the piratical, attacks which occurred during the few last years ; 
they do by no means serve to characterize the people. There are only the 
four above-mentioned examples known ; the first was certainly caused by 
the dissolute behaviour of the sailors, and the succeeding appear to have 
been executed only by certain bands. On the contrary, the Nicobarians 
show themselves hospitable, and aid foreigners in distress; and when 
formerly ships were wrecked on their coasts, they have no doubt appro¬ 
priated much of the goods, but they have received the shipwrecked and 
provided them with the necessaries of life. What coast exists on which 
no robberies and murders have ever been committed ? 

The group of islands consists of eight larger and twelve smaller islands ; 
the total area of which maj^ amount to somewhat above 30 square miles 
(German). The number of inhabitants may be estimated at five or six 
thousand, this proportionate population must, however, not be considered as 
so very small, if one takes into consideration that it is almost exclusively 
kept alive by the produce of the coral land. For, with the exception of 
a few small plantations of pisang, which are locally met with on open 
places in the interior between the hills, and which are of no essential im¬ 
portance for the sustenance of the population, the inner hilly parts of the 
islands are almost throughout overgrown with primeval jungle. A 
glance at the map will further show how small the area of that coast land 
is in proportion to the whole of the islands; it can be at the utmost only 
two or three square miles (German), and even of this there is some covered 
with forest; the productive part is moreover only very little cultivated, and 
for all that supplies to commerce a quantity of cocoanuts not unimportant 
for the consumption of this article in the Indian Peninsula, and which 
is taken from the natives at a proportionately very low price. How large 
might be the number of people which these islands could support, if the 
locally fertile soil was freed from forest and brought under suitable 
cultivation ? 

Car-Nicobar, the most northern island, is the best populated, and a 
long time since was visited by foreigners. The inhabitants, who probably 
amount to about a thousand, live in six villages and several single huts ; 
they are superior to the other islanders in cultivation. The greater 
extent which the coral land has here, yields a considerable produce of 
cocoanuts, and the regular trade with them has developed among the 
inhabitants a certain idea of regularity and punctuality in the fulfilling of 
contracts, and this is what chiefly gives them their superiority over their 




( 182 ) 


countrymen. They appear to know this also with a certain pride, and 
do not allow anybody to trade on their island, except the people of 
Chowry, From whom they obtain their earthen pots. They try to obtain 
from the captains with whom they deal te stimonials of their good 
behaviour, and boast to be good people who have never taken part in rob¬ 
beries. It is supposed that 25 ships annually are supplied by them, each 
with 100,000 cocoanuts ; so the export can be estimated at about two 
and a half millions yearly. 

Batty Malve and Tillangchong are not inhabited. 

Chowry is on the whole low and flat, only on the S. E. side 
there is a remarkable quadrangular cliff, about 300 feet high, with a 
plateau above of about 1,000 square yards. I have reason to believe that 
the interior of this hill consists of an older, probably a plutonic rock, round 
which terraces of coral limestone were formed. In spite of its small area 
it has about 500 inhabitants, who chiefly support themselves by the 
articles of pottery with which they supply all the other islands. Just as 
Car-Nicobar represents the commerce, this represents the industry of the 
islanders. The production of cocoanuts on this island being barely 
sufficient, even for the support of its inhabitants, there is no trade with 
foreigners, and the natives show themselves suspicious and reserved. 

Terressa is said to have about 1,000 inhabitants, who also export 
large numbers of cocoa and areca-nuts , but have somewhat of an ill 
name on account of their taking part in robberies. A few French 
Missionaries stayed for several years with them ; they appear to have 
made very little impression upon the stolid inhabitants in spite of their 
honorable and self-sacrificing endeavours; a few venerable long coats, 
in which some of the people parade about, seem to be almost the onty 
traces of Christianity which they left behind. 

The small Island of Bompoka forms, so to say, the centre of the plutonic 
masses, which were up-heaved from the bottom of the sea, and the tops 
of which rise here and there above its level, forming the whole of the 
northern group of islands. Whether on Bompoka an eruption of more 
recent volcanic rocks has subsequently taken place, and given the hills 
their present form, I cannot decide with certainty, for I could examine 
only a small portion of the island. 

Carmorta, Nancowry, and Trinkuttee I have already mentioned. The 
splendid harbour which they include will make them important as a 
station in future colonisation, while, on the other hand, they mostly 
possess a soil less favorably adapted for cultivation than others. The 
inhabitants of Carmorta were chiefly guilty of robberies. This specially 
refers to a few villages on the western side at the Ulalla bay, the inha¬ 
bitants of which did not like to show themselves, and have always distin¬ 
guished themselves from the rest by a certain wild behaviour. 

The southern group, to which geologically Katchall would also 
belong, is specially adapted for cultivation on account of its good 
soil.* Great and Little Nicobar are in their constitution closely related 
to each other. The eastern part of both is very high and hilly, 


* Government may note tliis. 






Foldout Placeholder 


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inserted at a future date. 


























( 183 ) 


and may not in great part be lit for plantations on account of 
the steepness; the highest points reach on Little Nicobar about 1,000, 
and on Great Nicobar about 2,000 feet. The western parts are, on the 

contrary, lower and more uniformly hilly ; and if I am allowed to judge 

from the steepness of the hills which I have seen on Pulo Penang, 
cultivated with Muscat-nut and cloves, I would certainly believe that 
one-half of each of these two islands is adapted for cultivation. They 
are also made accessible by three good harbours, one on the northern 

side of Little Nicobar, and two (one on the north and one on the 

south) on Great Nicobar. 

In other respects, as for instance the civilization of the people, these 
islands stand lowest. About 800 inhabitants live in scattered huts 
round their coasts, and that of the little Island of Kondul; they do not 
appear to have any trade, or even any distinct proprietorship regarding 
the cocoanuts. Only a few Malay and Burmese prahus occasionally visit 
the island, partly to fish trepang , partly to exchange knives and blue 
cloth for birds' nests and ambergris with the inhabitants. 

The poor huts on the coast of Great Nicobar, built below precipitous 
wooded cliffs in the small northern bay, offered a most desolate prospect. 
Perhaps the inhabitants here may also suffer from attacks on the part of 
the savages living in the interior. What can be the grade of civilization 
of that human tribe who know nothing beyond the interior of the pri¬ 
meval forest of Great Nicobar, and who scarcely attempt to approach the 
people inhabiting the wretched huts on the coast? The Nicobarians 
always spoke of them with contempt, and ridiculed their savage mode of 
life. They said that they sleep on trees, run through the jungle like cats, 
buy knives from the coast inhabitants for bundles of rotang , but gener¬ 
ally run away before them, or live at enmity with them, for they approach 
the huts at night to steal pigs and other things. They are said to be 
armed with wooden spears, and understand magic arts, by which they 
know how to catch snakes and crocodiles, and live on their flesh. More¬ 
over they do not know any matrimonial connection, but live dispersed in 
wandering bands. The habitations which we met on our trip up the river 
belonged to these people, and the fire which was still burning, as well as 
a pig in a sty, indicated that the inhabitants left the place only a short 
time before we arrived. There was no trace to be seen to show that they 
live on cocoanuts, but there was a hearth arranged for cooking the 
Pandanus fruit strangely enough, of burnt bricks, and with pots of the 
large stalks of leaves of the Nibong- palm. That these people are the 
original inhabitants of the island is probable; but whether they belong 
to the Negro race, it was not possible to make out from the confused 
account of the Nicobarians. It is known that, in the interior of Cevlon, 
Sumatra, and the Malayan Peninsula, there dwell similar wild tribes 
different from the inhabitants of the coast; and the same thing occurs 
here, on that one of the islands which is the largest, and which contains 
the smallest number of coast inhabitants. 

Remakes on the Map. 

The accompanying Geological Map is reduced from one prepared by the officers of the 
Galathea, especially by First Lieutenant Rotke, and from his measurements. I have already 
given my reasons in explanation of the coloring of those places which I have not myself 
visited. Further, those places about which I have the greatest doubts are specially marked. 






I 


( 184 . ) 


Remarks on the Flora of the Nicobar Islands. — Translated by N. Wallich, 
m. et. ph. d., f.r.s., v.p.l.s .,from the original of J. Diedriciisen, Esq. 

It has been usual to include the Nicobar Islands under the scita- 
mineous kingdom of Sehoiiw (the Indian of Roxburgh's), comprising 
the two grand Indian Peninsulas—Ceylon, the Maldives, the Laccadives, 
and the Andamans. But since scarcely more than the following plants 
of these islands were known at the time, namely, Boerhaavia glutinosa, 
Yahl; Scirpus subulatus , Yahl; Cyperus cephalotos , Vahl; Pandanus 
mellori, Roxb., or Nicobar bread-fruit (Alex. Moon’s Vieiv of the Plants 
of Ceylon) ; Davallia heteropliylla , Willd ; and Lindsaea tenera , Dryand. 
(Trans. Linn. Soc., Yol. I1T. } p. 42 ), it must have been the position of 
the islands between two continents which determined the point. The 
annexed list of the genera which occur on the Nicobars will demonstrate 
that this view has been very fortunate, a larg'e proportion being like¬ 
wise found on the Peninsula of India, as well as in Ceylon. But it will 
be remarked, also, that the vegetation is, as it were, a radiation from that 
question connecting it with the flora (the Polynesian kingdom of 
Sehoiiw or Rein wardt) of the grand group of islands extending from 
Sumatra eastwards. This is pointed out by the genera Dissochoea, 
Orophea, Peeterisanthes, Arthrophyllum , and Visennia, characteristic of 
that kingdom. If the above view is correct, a tolerable idea of the 
Nicobar vegetation may be formed from what is known of the Indian 
flora (the continent and islands as far as the Phillippines, with a mean 
temperature of 15° to 25° Reaum.). It must be noticed, however, that 
there exists a geognostic difference between the southern islands ( Sam- 
billang, Little Nicobar, and Katchall) and the northern, and that hence a 
considerable difference is observable in the distribution and character of 
their plants. The first named islands seem to be composed of calca¬ 
reous sandstone and claystone ; both of these are easily affected by the 
condition of the atmosphere, the chalk is neutralized by the carbonic acid 
combined with rain; and, provided tbe rocky substratum be not very 
inclined, the soil is several feet deep and apparently very fertile, consist¬ 
ing of lime with sand and micaceous clay. We accordingly find these 
islands, although the highest of the whole cluster, forest-clad to the 
very top. Quite different is the appearance on the northern islands, 
where plutonian, especially serpentine, rocks predominate. Decomposi¬ 
tion of these may in time produce a good soil, but the process goes on 
with far more difficulty than in the southern islands, consequently the 
soil here is much less abundant. Besides, it is only in Bompoka, Tillang- 
chong and Terressa, that the surface is naked; in Nancowry, Trinkuttee, 
Car-Nicobar, and partly also in Terressa, the surface is hidden by a crust 
of strongly absorbent meerschaum-like clay, containing iron, talc, and 
sometimes chalk, but destitute of alkalies, covered partially by a stratum 
of soil only a few inches deep, and unsuited for any sort of cultivation. 
The undulating surface of these islands, contrary to what is seen on the 
sharp ridges of the southern group, is covered with grass only, without 
forest, having species of Pandanus and Areca in small clusters, or 
solitarily scattered over it. It is only in valleys, where a somewhat 
richer soil has accumulated, that large masses of trees arc seen. 


( 185 ) 


In comparing the vegetable features of these islands with those of the 
surrounding countries, I will, for the present, confine myself to those of 
the southernmost. The profusion of vegetation which covers these islands 
is probably nowhere surpassed in India. Nearly the whole area of the 
islands is covered with dense primeval forests : scarcely one open spot 
is to be met with where direct solar light admits of an herbaceous 
growth. But this overwhelming denseness is not owing to the predomi¬ 
nance of a few social plants, as is the case in temperate zones, but results 
from a large number of species crowded together in great variety. This 
becomes at once obvious, when it is stated that, out of seventy-three 
dicotyledonous genera, eleven-nineteenths appear as trees or shrubs, 
occasionally (Ficus) in numerous species. But this luxuriance is not 
confined to the extent of the forests, it is manifest also in the 
grand and colossal size of the individual trees and shrubs composing 
them, and this applies likewise to the tropical richness of certain herba¬ 
ceous plants (Musa sapientum, Troglodyiarum ?), and to grasses (Bam- 
busa) . The Galatkea’s stay at the Nicobars was during the height of 
the dry season (January and February), and yet I do not recollect having 
observed one single sound tree in a naked condition ; the forests being 
fully as verdant with foliage as with us in the month of June. This, 
however, is not dependent so much on a predominance of ever-green trees, 
which are of frequent occurrence (Aurantiacece, Clusiacea, Bhizophorea , 
Myrtacece) , as on their continued, or on the whole little interrupted 
process of vegetation. As an instance of this, I may mention that 
Thespesia populnea, Paritium tiliaceum , Sterculia balangkas, and Sophora 
iomentosa , trees with herbaceous soft leaves were not only in full foli¬ 
age, but in flower and fruit. The trees in these ancient forests grow 
so closely together that they are compelled to shoot up in length, being 
most frequently without branches to a great height from the root, and 
the crowns so full of leaves, and so much crowded together, that they 
produce great darkness underneath. The leaves are frequently very 
large in size, such as many Laurinea , Mappa, Arlocarpus , Uvaria, Ba- 
ringtonia. Trees with compound leaves are very frequent (Mimosece, 
Papilionacece, Aurantiacecc, Sapindacere, Canarium, Cues/is) ; sometimes 
they are very large fSapindus , Palma). As examples of herbaceous plants 
with very large leaves may be mentioned Musa , Colocasia , Caladium , 
Asplenium, Nidus, Leea. We are reminded of the high development and 
luxuriance of the vegetation of tropical India by such fruits as the 
shaddock (Citrus decumana) , the papaya (Carica Papaya) , the Atap (Nip a 
fruticans) j the jack (Artocarpus integrjfolia) ; the bread-fruit, (Artocur- 
pus incisa); the fruit of Entada, Purscatha, Baringtonia speciosa, and 
Pandanus. In the dense forest-shade alluded to, phoenogamous plants 
were rarely seen, the ground being, for the most part, occupied by'impe¬ 
netrable masses of vegetable in a state of decomposition, and it was only 
by glimpses that the crowds of climbing, twining*, and parasitical plants, 
occupying the tops of the trees, could be discerned. On the smaller 
islands, e. g., Pulo Milu, and along the sea shores of those of greater 
size, as well as generally wherever the forests were less dense and dark, 
an underwood appeared, which consisted most frequently of species of 
Guilandina , Psidiurn, Bridelia, Gtdonium, Fcronia, Orophea, Nauclea , 
Marinda , J as minimi, Elagnus , Boehmcria , Epicarpunts, Feus (racemosa.) 

24 


( JS6 ) 


I 


These were Again intermixed' with an endless pell-mell of twiners and 
climbers, the former chiefly consisting of graceful ferns (Lygodium , 
Menispermece), numerous Convolvulacece, (Ampelidete, Cucurbitacea) 
species of Aristolochia, Roxbuirghia, Simlacece and Piper. The large trees 
were strung with mighty twiners, such as Mucuna, Canavalia, Pong am in > 
Conocephalus, and the gigantic Entada Pur sect ha, while their trunks 
supported half parasitical Ficus species. Hoy a viridiflora, Pothos scan- 
dens, elegant Lycopodia and many ferns (A atrophy um, Vittaria , 
Asplenium., the luxuriant Asplenium Nidus being the most conspicuous 
among them. Of Ore hide ee there were only few in number, as well as 
in species (Dendrobium ?) they were somewhat withered, and were the 
onlj r plants which pointed at the aridity of the season. The underwood 
is so dense as, on that account alone, to be very difficult to traverse; 
but it becomes entirely impenetrable on occasions, which not un- 
frequently occur, when it is overgrown with species of rattan (Calamus ). 
Their leaves, from ten to twelve feet long, are densely armed below 7 with 
thorns of several inches, while their elongated midrib, eight to twelve 
feet long, is densely beset with recurved hooks. Here none but the 
natives are able to penetrate by the aid of the cutlass, which they wield 
w 7 ith great dexterity and celerity. 

I may likewise add, that nowhere have T seen such vast primeval 
forest, with such dense and impenetrable underwood, as I found here 
on the Southern Nicobars. At the neighbouring Pulo Penang, for 
instance, neither are the still remaining forests so grand, nor the 
underwood so crowded, as to prevent their being traversed with, small 
difficulty. As I have said already, the dense part of the forests, in 
which underwood is mostly wanting, is peculiar to the southern islands, 
while the more open portion, which is furnished with underwood, is 
much narrower on the northern islands, w r ith the exception perhaps of 
Car-Nicobar, its outer margin imperceptibly dwindling into the vege¬ 
tation of the more recent alluvium.. It is frequently extended towards 
the interior, into low 7 valleys, without being met there by any dense 
forests. On the contrary, the forest becomes more open and low, and is 
gradually succeeded by a number of elegant shrubs, chiefly of the 
genera Lxora, Inga, Cassia, Colubrina, Flemingia, Bauhinia, Viiex, 
Meesa, Erycibe, Leea, Bn,bus, (moluccanus,) Mnssoenda, (frondosa,) and 
Melastoma, (Malabathricum,) : mixed w 7 ith shrubby or arborescent ferns. 
Heath-like tracts covered with a sort of fern (Gleichenia,) or luxuriant 
grass-plains, occasionally take the place of those shrubs. 

"Within the belt thus formed,, the hills are on the whole covered 
with grass only. The sod towards the inner confines of the forest, 
at places where the soil is richer and more moist, is formed of soft, 
juicy grasses, and in part of stiff and arid sorts of Cyperacea (, Scleria , 
Cyperns, JDipUcrum) , but the greater area is occupied by more delicate, 
yet dry and stiff, grasses, among which a species of Lmperata (Lallang) 
performs an important part. This is almost the only plant on the 
Nicobars which, being in the highest degree social, occupied whole tracts 
of land, excluding all other lower vegetation, and admitting only here 
and there on the borders the growth of other sorts of grasses, and of 
some species of Alysiearpns , Desmodium, Tirana ,, Smilhia, and Crotalaria . 


( 187 ) 


which may be compared in some degree with our clovers. Towards the 
top of the hills even the grasses become scanty and stunted, ceasing at 
length altogether on spots where the clay is covered by a coarse sand, 
containing some iron, and washed into barrenness by the frequent falls 
of rain, and producing only few and poor plants of species of Leucas, 
Aerva, and Evolvulus. Although all these grass-plains possessed some 
degree of freshness, yet they exhibited such a uniformly arid, barren* 
desert-like picture, as to have nothing like it in our country. 
With us, the meadows, apart from the difference in the soil, produce 
such variety of species, and in such profusion and luxuriance of growth, 
that by way of distinction, the grass lands of the Northern Nicobar 
Islands might, without impropriety, be designated as grass heaths; even 
the soft and undulating outline of the hills contributed to this fatiguing 
uniformity of scenery, very sparingly relieved by the scanty and small 
clumps of Areca and Pandan us species. In this last respect the Island 
of Bompoka differs. It has a rounded form and bold volcanic elevation; 
it terminates abruptly, with an extensive crater like depression, overgrown 
by a dense forest, in which -palms rise above the other trees, while 

the sides are strikingly varied by a number of radiating ridges and 
valleys, resembling in this respect the Island of Madeira on a small 
scale, and exclusively covered with the before-mentioned grass carpet, 

The heights, as well as the skirting flats, which form the greatest part 
of the area of these islands, participate in the sort of vegetation alluded 
to; but the more-reeently formed low-lands, though of less extent, are 
of far greater importance to the natives; and however different in regard 
to their origin and structure, the social character of many of their trees 
and shrubs is very striking, when contrasted with the varied constituents 
of the old forests. Along the coast extends a narrow slip of land con¬ 
sisting of fragments of corals, mixed up with debris of old rocks, 
becoming more predominant as the tract recedes from the sea. Here 
and there it is interrupted by precipitous rocks, or the accumulation of 
fresh water. On the whole, the slip is narrower and of less extent on 
the southern islands; and, since it constitutes the principal portion of 
the cultivable land, the consequence of this disparity is, that the popula¬ 
tion of the northern island is far greater than that of the others. The 
sea beach is elevated some feet by the force of the wind and waves, and 
consists of dazzling white coral band; and, beyond the reach of the 
high tides, it shelters a narrow band of low, creeping plants, a kind of 
Isdmmum ) Do lick os luleus and Convolvulus maritimus (so common on all 
tropical sea-shores). Beyond this band, wherever nature has not been 
disturbed, is seen a dense vegetation formed by two shrubby plants only, 
namely, Tournefortia (argentea ?) and Scaevola Taccada, to the exclusion 
of all others, and, indeed, of each other reciprocally. Thus* the former 
occurs in great abundance on the island oi Trice, the latter not at all; 
while the reverse is the case on the adjacent Pulo Milu. Both these 
plants grow so close together and with such fresh luxuriance, that they 
look like some neatly trimmed hedge. The silvery Tournef'ortia attains 
a height of twenty feet and is distinguishable even at a distance by its 
greyish tint; while the dense-leaved and pale-green Scaevola luxuriates in 
ail the vigour of a vernal freshness; but it is often, together with the 


( 188 ) 


IscJnemum beyond, overgrown by large masses of a pale yellow, leafless, 
filiform social parasite, the Casytha filiformis. Within or beyond this 
fence, rarely on the sea-side of it, we have a variety of trees, which are 
either not found at all elsewhere, or appear here in greatest number, 
although they do not belong to the social class. Among the commonest is 
the magnificent Baringtonia speciosa, Guettarda speciosa, which perfumes 
the air after the sun has set, Calophyllvm inophy llum, Paritium tiliaceum, 
Tkespesia populnea , Heritiera litoralis ? Hernandia ovigera and Sterculia 
Balanghas. Of smaller size, but not less striking by their frequency, are 
species of Sophora (iomentosa), Canavalia, Bridelia, Glochidion, Mappa and 
Ricinus communis ; this last on Katchall was of the size of a tree twelve 
to thirteen feet high, with seeds much smaller than what is usual when 
it is herbaceous; and it formed a thick grove, occupying several acres, 
probably the result of cultivation. But it is the cocoanut, almost the 
only plant cultivated with any sort of care by the inhabitants, which 
occupies-the largest space of the coral land, and at once attracts the 
eye of the new comer, both by its numbers and form, all the other 
vegetation, however striking, forming as it were only the framework 
to this palm. I am not aware of the cocoa occurring any where beyond 
the coral land, with the exception of the little elevation of about 100 
feet of the small rocky island of Montchal: and the upper part of the 
river of Little Nicobar; it is planted without any regularity, and more 
closely than in many other parts of India; neither is it kept free from 
weeds or sometimes even a dense coppice, nor are the older trees surround¬ 
ed by a circular ridge for the purpose of irrigation in the dry season; 
and yet I know not that I have seen it any where in greater luxuriance, 
or producing a greater quantity of fruit, than on the Nicobars. 

There is a fresh water pool nearly in the middle of Milu, leaning on 
sandstone and clay slate formations to the westward, but in other directions 
surrounded by coral land. Its fine, dark, peat-like soil, was still, towards the 
end of the dry season, very moist, and so unresisting that you everywhere 
sank down. There was none of the lower vegetation here but so much 
the greater abundance of Pandanus and Areca , especially the former, 
which, although growing frequently and luxuriantly everywhere, and 
constituting one of the most striking features of the Nicobar flora, 
seems at this place to attain its greatest development, both as to 
numbers and dimensions. It was from thirty to forty feet high, and 
more, dividing four to six times into branches, and bearing fruits of eighteen 
to twenty inches in length. On another island, Trice, there was a some¬ 
what similar pool of fresh water, differing in this, that it had no vent 
towards the sea-side, so that it must be like a small lake during the 
rainy season. In February it was almost dry, the soil contained much 
less humus, and supported a low vegetation (HelminthostacJiys dulcis) 
with few Pandojii only, while there was a surrounding high, open 
forest ol various species of Ficus and of Parivgtonia racemosa , with 
an underwood of Feronia elephantum and an Ardisia. I know of no 
other pools on the islands like the above; but on the Galathea river, 
on the river which falls into the bay of Pulo Milu, and probably often on 
the large islands, extensive breaks in the coral land are caused by the 
so-called mangrove swamps. The inner part of the bay just mentioned, 


( 189 ) 


where the river empties itself, is covered with slime, on which, during 
the ebb-tide, there are only a few feet of water, and where a stray little 
mangrove is only rarely observable; but where the sea recedes entirely 
during its ebb, the mangrove thicket commences, covering perhaps the 
other two-thirds of the valley through which the river flows. This 
whole extent is covered with brackish water during the flood tide, and 
during the ebb the mud contains rich quantities of Crustacea and Mol- 
lusca. With exception of the mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) and 
a less frequent Acanthaceous plant (Dilivaria) there is no other vegeta¬ 
tion. Close to the margin of the bay, the first forms a very dense 

shrubbery, not unlike an alder coppice; but it soon becomes a high 

and open forest, made difficult of access by the deep mud, and the knee- 
formed roots projecting above it. Where the influence of the tides 
ceases, the mangrove disappears with it; and so far as the river inun¬ 
dation extends during the rains a varied vegetation flourishes, consisting of 
Ficus, Pandanus, Flagellaria, Calamus, Inga, Cordyline, the wild plantain, 
arborescent ferns, Convolvulacece, and receiving a remarkable feature from 
the very frequent Atap (Nipa fruiicans), a stemless, palm-like plant 
having its large fruit often ripening under the water. As soon as 

the river sides rise several feet above the water, the Atap disap¬ 

pears altogether, and vegetation becomes very beautifully rich; still open 
forests contain Pandani and Areca palms, and are succeded occasionally 
by open tracts of luxuriant shrubby or arboreous ferns, Melostoma , 
high grass, Rubus, Carica, Papaya, or occupied by the little partly en¬ 
closed gardens of the natives, in which the sugar-cane, the cocoanut, 
oranges, bananas, yams (Calocasia indica and Caladium nymph coifolium) 
thrive to a degree of perfection, which points at this tract as the most 
fertile on the island, and as that which, in case of colonization, would 
be the principal land to cultivate, the coral-land being almost entirely 
occupied already. 

Finally, the coral-land is interrupted occasionally by rocks pro¬ 
jecting into the reef, which is inundated during flood tide. Here the 
elevated sea beach does not exist; and the almost bare rocks are 
characterized by a very common Casuaria, and also a Callicarpa and 
a Sponia (Celtis vesiimentaria, Kamphovener). It will be noticed, 
in the accompanying list of genera of plants found on the Nicobars, 
that a number of forms are wanting which, considering the geogra¬ 
phical position of the islands, might have been expected in it; for in¬ 
stance, Ceratopteris, Marsilia, Stratiotes, Nepenthes, and Quercus all of 
which occur on the neighbouring Pulo Penang, to the extent of nine 
species of the oak alone. This deficiency may be owing in part to 
there being no open stagnant water on any of the group (excepting 
perhaps Trice), and partly also to our brief examination haying taken 
place during the dry season, not reaching at all to the extensive wooded 
heights of the islands. 

O 

Enumeration of 261 genera found on the Nicobars, distributed 
into ninety-nine natural orders :— 

Mimosese— Inga, Acacia, Entada, Mimosa. 

Leg uminosse— -Bauhinia, Cassia, Tamarindus, GuUandina, Soph ora, 
Dalbergia, Pangamia, Abrus, Flemingia, Numismia, Cajanus, 


( 190 ) 


* 


Dolichos, Mucuna, Canavalia, Clitoria, Alysicarpus, Dicenna, 
Desmodium, Ur aria, Smithiu, Crotalaria. 

Rosaceae —Rub us. 


M y rtaceae— Barring to n in, Eug e n ia, Psidium. 

Melastomeae— Dissochcete, Osbeckia, Melastoma. 

Oenotliereae— Jussieua. 

Rbizopboreae —B rug ultra, lihizophora, Carallia. 

Combretaceae —Comb return. 

Ocknaceae— Ochna. 

Coimaraceae —C nestis. 

Burseraeeae— Canarium . 

Anacardiaceae— Semecarpus, Rhus, Man gif era, Sorindeia. 
Euphorbiaceae— Glochulion, Cicca, P/ujtlauthus, Bridelia, Geloniurn, 
Ricinus, Mappa, Claoxylon, Manihot, Acalypha, Euphorbia. 
Rhairmeae— Cullubrina, Gouania. 

Hippocrateae— Salacia. 

Celastrinae— Euonymos. 

Pittosporeaae— Rittosporunu 
P oly go 1 e ae— Poly gala. 

Sapindaceae— Schmiedelia , Sapindus. 

Aimmtiaceae— Triphasia, Alalantia'l Citrus, Glycosmis, Feronia, 
Clusiaeeae— Garcinia, Calophyllum . 

Dipterocarpeae— Term inalia. 

Cbdaenaceae- —Hugonia ? 

Tiliaceae— Grewia, Elceocarpus, Monocera » 

Byttneriaceae— Visenia. 

Sterculiaceae— Sterculia, Heritiera, Helicieres. 

Malvaceae— Faritium, Thespesia, Urena, Sida, Hibiscus, Abel* 
moschus. 

Cucurbitaceae— Lagenaria, Momordica . 

Papayaceae— Carica. 

Bixaceae— Bixa. 

N y mpbae ceae— Ny mp hcea. 

Capparideae— Gynandrapsis, Folanisia. 

Anonaceae— Anona, Uvaria, Orophea . 

Myristiceae— Myristica. 

Menispermeae— Menispermum, Cocculus, Stephania » 

Lorautbeae —Lor an thus. 

Ampelideae— Leea, Cissus, Pterisanthes, 

Araliaceae— Aralia, Arthrophyllum. 

Umbelliferae— Hydrocotyle. 

Sapoteae— Sideroxylon. 

Myrsineae— Ardisia, Mresa. 

Ebenaceae— Diospyros. 

Bignoniaceae— Spathodea. 

Acanthaceae— Thunbergia, Difivaria, Justiciu. 

Scropbularineae— Bonnaya. 

Solanaceae— Capsicum, Datura, Nicoliuna, So l an urn. 

Hydroleaceae-— Hydrolea. 

Convolvulaceae— Convolvulus, Ipomoea, Eri/cibe, Lepistemon 
Auiscia, Calonyction, Evolvolus. 








( 191 > 

A sperifolise— Ehretia, Tourne/ortia. 

Cordiacese— Cor dm. 

Verbenaceae— Vitex, Premna, Clerodendron, Callicarpa. 

Labiat e— Ocymum, Stachys ? Orthosiphon, Leucas. 

Aselepi adeae— Hoy a , Sa rco lo b ns. 

Apocyneae— Alstonia, Cerbera, Taberncemontana * 

Loganiaceae— Fagrcea. 

Oleinse— Chionanthus. 

J asmineae— Jnsrninum. 

Rubiaeeae— Musscenda, Jxora, Nauclea, Serissa, Psychotria, Guel- 
tarda, Ophiorrhiza, Morinda, Hedyotis, Gonotheca. 

Lobeliaceae— Lobelia. 

Goodeniaceae— Scazvola. 

Compositae— Ageratum> Cyanopsis, Vernonia ? Wedelia, E dipt a,. 

Adenostemma, Bidens, Spilanthes, Conzya ?. 

Aristolochieae— Aristolodiia. 

Eleagneae— Eire aquas. 

II era andi aeeae— Her nan dia . 

Laurineae— Polyadehiee, Lutsia, Cassytha. 

Polygons— Polygonum. 

Amarantaceae— Aerva, Alternanthera, Achyranlhes, Desmochceta. 
Antidesmeas— Antidesma Lepidostachys. 

Urticeee— Elatostemma, Boehmeria, Parietaria, Urtica, 

Avtocarpeae— Ficus, Artocarpus, Conocephalus. 

Moreae— Epicarpurus. 

Oasuarineae— Casuarina. 

Piperaceae— Piper. 

Palmae— Cocos, Areca, Calamus. 

Pandaneae— Pandanus, A ipa. 

Aroideae— Caladium, Colocasia, Pothos. 

N aj adeae — Zoster a. 

Musaceae— M us a. 

Cannaceae— Canna. 

Zingiberaceae— Alpinia {Ophcenicea, KamplidvenerJ Amonum frue- 
la acida (Rink). 

Orchideae— Dendrobium,. 

Rromeliaceae— Ananassa. 

Amaryllideae— Crinum . 

Hypoxideae— Curculigo.. 

Dioscoreae— Dioscorea. 

Smilaeeae— Roxburghia, Smilax, Cordyline. 

J unceae— Flagellaria. 

Commelyneae— Comwelyna, Tradescantia. 

Eriocaubce— Eriocaulon. 

Cyperaceae— Cypenis, Kyllingia, Scirpus, Fimbristylis, Haplostylis, 
Viplacrum, Scleria. 

Gramineae— Oplismenus, Panicum, Jschcemum, Andropogon, Pas- 
palum., Manisuris, JJimeria, Isachne, Jmperata, Saccharum, 
Rambusa, Pennisetum, Dactyloctenimn, Phragmites, Sporobolus, 
Eragroslis, Poa. 








( 192 ) 


Cy cad ese — Cycas. 

Ly co j) od i n eae, —Ly capo diu m . 

O ph i ogdosseae. —Helm hit ho st ac hys . 

Maratt iaceae —A ny iopteris. 

S ch i zese —Lyg o di u m. 

Gleichenieae— Gleichenia. 

Hymenophyllese — Trickomanes. 

Polypodieae— Dicksonia, Davallia? Lindsaa, Aspidium, Diplazium, 
Asplenium, Pteris, Vittaria, Adiantum, Pleopeltis, Poly podium, 
Blechnum, Gymnogramma, Antrophyum, Acrostichum. 


> 



( 193 ) 


Extract from the 


' c Voyage oj the Austrian Frigate Novara” (Statistics 
Commercial Fart, Vol. I, p. 291,; 


The Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. 


6° 50'—9° 10' N. Lat. 

93°—94° E. Long. 

(Period of stay from 23rd February to 26th March 1S58.) 

The Nicobar Islands lie on one of the most frequented pathways of 
commerce in the world, and one which will be rendered still more im¬ 
portant by the completion of the scheme of railways from Belgrade to 
the Persian Gulf, as well as by the opening of the Suez Canal. A circle 
of a radius of 1,200 ( i . e., 1,373^ English miles) nautical miles, drawn 
with this archipelago as centre, would embrace within its circumference 
the most important ports of India, Ceylon, the Isles of Sunda, and 
Cochin-China. Moreover the value of this island group is further 
enhanced by the fact that the prevailing regular winds materially facilitate 
communication with the neighbouring coasts. These are the N. E. 
monsoon* from November to March, and the S. W. monsoon from May 
to September inclusive. 

April and October have variable winds, which extend more or less 
into the months immediately succeeding. 

The cyclones of the Bay of Bengal never touch the Nicobars. 
These so-much dreaded storms emanate sometimes from the Anda¬ 
mans, sometimes from the west coast of Sumatra, and their course lies, 
in the former case, towards the north of the Gull*, in the latter, towards 
Ceylon and the Coromandel Coast. During the S. W. monsoon (May 
to September), to which period the rainy season belongs, violent thunder¬ 
storms frequently occur. The dry N. E. monsoon brings fair weather, 
but at times blows very strong. 

The climate of the Archipelago, though tropical, is not to be classed 
among the hottest known, solely because it is an insular climate, and the 


* The trade winds, (Germ.— Passat-wincle; French— Vents alizes), tfiose constant wind- 
currents in the direction from the poles towards the equator, which make themselves felt 
on the earth’s surface in tropical regions, and which blow N. E. in the northern, aud 
S. E. in the southern, hemisphere, exhibit sometimes, (e.g. in the Indian and Chiucse 
seas) diversions due to the formation of the adjacent continents. In the winter of the 
northern hemisphere, when the air cools down over the Asiatic continent, the N. E. trade- 
wind does blow towards the region of calms, a region about 6° in width: but in summer 
so high a temperature is developed over that continent that the 8. E. trade wind of the 
southern hemisphere is drawn far across the equator, and in the northern hemisphere by 
reason of the earth’s rotation becomes, according to the law of rotation, a regular S. W. 
wind. These winds, which change every half year, are called monsoons or moussons (Arab— 
mausim ; Sansk.— kutika or masa ; Pers.— mouzun, or season-wind). The Malays, to be more 
exact, add to the word mausim the descriptive term ‘ east or west,’ timur or bar at, (in Javanese 
ivetan and kulan). The winds which blow in the Malayan Archipelago are nevertheless not 
two-fold, but really four-fold ; the N. E. and S. W. monsoons to the north, and the S. E. 
and N. W. monsoons to the south of the equator. The northern portions of Sumatra, 
Borneo, and Celebes, as also the whole of the Malayan Peninsula, and the entire group of the 
Philippines are subject to the two former; while the two latter prevail in the southern 
portions of Sumatra, Borneo aud Celebes, and likewise in all islands from Java to New 
Guinea south of the equator. 


25 





( 194 ) 


islands are thickly covered with wood. According to the meteorological 
observations instituted, the mean annual temperature ought not to exceed 
25° centigrade, a temperature which is nearly the same as that of the fresh 
unripe cocoanut. But in April and October, when frequent calms prevail, 
the maximum temperature may very possibly reach 30° or 31 centigrade. 

Looking to the very considerable amount of downpour, and to 
the circumstance that the dry period of the N. E., and the wet period of 
the S. W., monsoon do not appear so sharply divided as on the main land, 
and that even in the course of the dry season thunderstorms and violent 
showers not unfrequently occur, the annual rainfall must be large; 
at any rate it cannot be less than 100 [German] inches, and may 
come up to 150 inches. Surprising as these figures may seem com¬ 
pared with the rainfall in various parts of Europe,* they are far from 
reaching those exhibited by other regions exposed to the regular change 
of monsoon; e. g ., the Straits of Malacca, where the annual rainfall 
reaches 208 inches, or Maliableshwar, where it even amounts to 254 
inches. The driest month of the year in the Nicobars is probably 
March. We experienced during the whole of that month, whether on 
the islands or in their neighbourhood, only three heavy showers. In 
April these showers begin to get more frequent, till at last in May and 
June heavy storm-clouds continuously empty themselves over the 
islands. Accordingly, except where special geological peculiarities, as 
for instance the marl formation of the northern group (particularly on 
Nancowry, Carmorta, Trinkuttee, Bompoka, and Terressa), necessitate 
a speedy off-flow of the rainfall, these islands must generally have an 
abundant water supply. 

The total area of the whole Archipelago amounts approximately 
to 545 nautical square miles, or 735*5 English square miles. 


The ground may be roughly divided into the following principal classes 
with reference to its geological qualities and greater or lesser fertility :— 


Vegetation. 

Corresponding geolo¬ 
gical basis. 

Character of the soil. 

Percentage to 
total area. 

Mangrove 

Salt water swamp, and 
moist salt water allu- 

Unculturable swamp. 

5 


vium. 



Cocoa-palm 

Coral conglomerate; 

coral sand ; dry marine 
alluvium. 

Fertile lime soil: prin¬ 
cipal components, car¬ 
bonate and phosphate 
of lime. 

5 

Plantain 

Fresh water swamp, and 
fresh water alluvium. 

Fertile swampy soil, un¬ 
suited for tillage. 

5 

Grass exclusively ... 

Plastic clay; marl and 
serpentine containing 
magnesia. 

Barren clay soil, silicic 
acid, argillaceous earth, 
and silicate of magne¬ 
sia. 

15 

Mixed pi’imeval 
forest. 

Coral conglomerate sand¬ 
stone, clay slate, gab- 
bro, dry river alluvium. 

Loose, clayey, fertile 
sand soil, rich in 
alkalis and lime. 

70 


* In Central Europe the annual rainfall ranges from 20 to 40 inches, 





























( 195 ) 


11 we only reckon 70 per cent, of the total superficies of the islands 
as eulturab e, we have a productive area of 384 nautical, or nearly 
® , Ln £ llsh > sf l ua *' e miles. But even the ground, which is at present 
exclusively covered with grass vegetation, might, with the extension 
o* P ro P er cultivation, be made remunerative, and the islands, which 
are now peopled by barely 5,000 souls, might easily and profitably ac¬ 
commodate more than 100,000 inhabitants. 


. present the principal product of the Nicobars is the cocoa-palm 
which grows chiefly on the sea-shore, as far as the coral sand extends, and 
seldom pushes far inland, for which reason it was appropriately named 
by Martius, that most meritorious student of the palm family, the 
sea-shoie palm. The settlements of the indolent inhabitants of the 
Nicobars, who have neither tillage nor other industry, are therefore con¬ 
fined to this tract. Few natives could ever have been induced to go into the 
interior of the islands. The same kindly plant which affords the natives 
food and drink also brings them into involuntary contact with civili¬ 
zation, and becomes the means of introducing those wants and 
objects which are the result of a higher degree of development. Ripe 
cocoanuts form the chief article of export of the Nicobar Islands; edible 
birds'* nests, tortoise-shell, ambergris, trepang ,* &c., being of little im¬ 
portance as exports, are only shipped as secondary freight. According 
to printed returns, the northern islands are said to yield annually ten 
million cocoanuts, of which, however, at present, hardly more than five 
millions are exported,—three millions alone from Car-Nicobar, and two mil¬ 
lions from all the other islands together. As this important fruit is here 
six times cheaper than on the coast of Bengal, or in the Straits of Malacca, 
the number of English and Malay vessels that come here (principally 
from Penang) to ship cocoanuts, is every year increasing*}*. The 
trade is carried on not in cash, but by barter, though silver has already 
a high value ; and, notwithstanding all that is talked of the greediness of 
the Nicobarians for tobacco, glass-beads, and gewgaws, the truth of the 
proposition that money is the most current ware is even there justified. J 

The favourite articles of barter are cutlasses (like the machetes 
or wood-knives of the South American Indians), table-knives, axes, 
muskets, calico, and other colored cotton stuffs, salt meat, biscuit, 
onions, rice, American chewing-tobacco (in sticks), medicines (salts, 
spirits of camphor, peppermint, turpentine, eau-de-cologne, castor-oil); 
silver wire, beads, rum and old clothes; above all, black felt hats, the 
strange preference for which may arise from the fact that the natives 


* This is an edible species of holothuria ox* sea-slug (Holothuria edulis), called in 
Chinese hai-shin, and in French biche-de-mer. In China and Japan it is used in a dry state 
as a costly dainty and aphrodisiac, and consequently foiTns an important article of trade, 
and every year its collection and transport affords employment to a large number of ships. 
More than 12,000 piculs of this worm-like creature, worth, according to quality, from 8 
to 100 dollars the picul, are yeaidy brought into the Chinese mai’ket from the Malay Archi¬ 
pelago and the South Sea Islands. 

f In Penang harbour a picul of cocoanuts (113^ German lb, or about 300 nuts) is 
worth 5^ Spanish dollars, i. e., £ 1 3s. 10 d., one Spanish dollar being equal to 52 pence, 
English. 

j Of silver coins, howevei', the natives only know and will only take rupees, Spanish 
dollars, and English six-penny pieces, which they call " small rupees.” On the southern 
islands, gold is still completely unknown, and therefore worthless in the eyes of the 
inhabitants. 



( 194 ) 


islands are thickly covered with wood. According’ to the meteorological 
observations instituted, the mean annual temperature ought not to exceed 
25° centigrade, a temperature which is nearly the same as that of the fresh 
unripe cocoanut. But in April and October, when frequent calms prevail, 
the maximum temperature may very possibly reach 30° or 31° centigrade. 

Looking to the very considerable amount of downpour, and to 
the circumstance that the dry period of the N. E., and the wet period of 
the S. W., monsoon do not appear so sharply divided as on the main land, 
and that even in the course of the dry season thunderstorms and violent 
showers not unfrequently occur, the annual rainfall must be large; 
at any rate it cannot be less than 100 [German] inches, and may 
come up to 150 inches. Surprising as these figures may seem com¬ 
pared with the rainfall in various parts of Europe,* they are far from 
reaching those exhibited by other regions exposed to the regular change 
of monsoon; e. g ., the Straits of Malacca, where the annual rainfall 
reaches 208 inches, or Mahableshwar, where it even amounts to 254 
inches. The driest month of the year in the Nicobars is probably 
March. We experienced during the whole of that month, whether on 
the islands or in their neighbourhood, only three heavy showers. In 
April these showers begin to get more frequent, till at last in May and 
June heavy storm-clouds continuously empty themselves over the 
islands. Accordingly, except where special geological peculiarities, as 
for instance the marl formation of the northern group (particularly on 
Nancowry, Carmorta, Trinkuttee, Bompoka, and Terressa), necessitate 
a speedy off-flow of the rainfall, these islands must generally have an 
abundant water supply. 

The total area of the whole Archipelago amounts approximately 
to 545 nautical square miles, or 735*5 English square miles. 


The ground may be roughly divided into the following principal classes 
with reference to its geological qualities and greater or lesser fertility :— 


Vegetation. 

Corresponding geolo¬ 
gical basis. 

Character of the soil. 

Percentage to 
total area. 

Mangrove 

Salt water swamp, and 
moist salt water allu¬ 
vium. 

Unculturable swamp. 

5 

Cocoa-palm 

Coral conglomerate; 

coral sand ; dry marine 
alluvium. 

Fertile lime soil: prin¬ 
cipal components, car¬ 
bonate and phosphate 
of lime. 

5 

Plantain 

Fresh water swamp, and 
fresh water alluvium. 

Fertile swampy soil, un¬ 
suited for tillage. 

5 

Grass exclusively... 

Plastic clay; marl and 
serpentine containing 
magnesia. 

Barren clay soil, silicic 
acid, argillaceous earth, 
and silicate of magne¬ 
sia. 

15 

Mixed primeval 
forest. 

Coral conglomerate sand¬ 
stone, clay slate, gab- 
bro, dry river alluvium. 

Loose, clayey, fertile 
sand soil, rich in 
alkalis and lime. 

70 


* In Central Europe the annual rainfall ranges from 20 to 40 inches, 



























( 195 ) 


If we only reckon 70 per cent, of the total superficies of the islands 
as culturable, we have a productive area of 384 nautical, or nearly 
520 English, square miles. But even the ground, which is at present 
exclusively covered with grass vegetation, might, with the extension 
ot proper cultivation, be made remunerative, and the islands, which 
are now peopled by barely 5,000 souls, might easily and profitably ac¬ 
commodate more than 100,000 inhabitants. 

At present the principal product of the Nicobars is the cocoa-palm, 
which grows chiefly on the sea-shore, as far as the coral sand extends, and 
seldom pushes far inland, for which reason it was appropriately named 
by Martius, that most meritorious student of the palm family, the 
“ sea-shore palm.” The settlements of the indolent inhabitants of the 
Nicobars, who have neither tillage nor other industry, are therefore con¬ 
fined to this tract. Few natives could ever have been induced to go into the 
interior of the islands. The same kindly plant which affords the natives 
food and drink also brings them into involuntary contact with civili¬ 
zation, and becomes the means of introducing those wants and 
objects which are the result of a higher degree of development. Ripe 
cocoanuts form the chief article of export of the Nicobar Islands; edible 
birds' nests, tortoise-shell, ambergris, irepang ,* &c., being of little im¬ 
portance as exports, are only shipped as secondary freight. According 
to printed returns, the northern islands are said to yield annually ten 
million cocoanuts, of which, however, at present, hardly more than five 
millions are exported,—three millions alone from Car-Nicobar, and two mil¬ 
lions from all the other islands together. As this important fruit is here 
six times cheaper than on the coast of Bengal, or in the Straits of Malacca, 
the number of English and Malay vessels that come here (principally 
from Penang) to ship cocoanuts, is every year increasing-]-. The 
trade is carried on not in cash, but by barter, though silver has already 
a high value ; and, notwithstanding all that is talked of the gTeediness of 
the Nicobarians for tobacco, glass-beads, and gewgaws, the truth of the 
.proposition that money is the most current ware is even there justified.}: 

The favourite articles of barter are cutlasses (like the machetes 
or wood-knives of the South American Indians), table-knives, axes, 
muskets, calico, and other colored cotton stuffs, salt meat, biscuit, 
onions, rice, American chewing-tobacco (in sticks), medicines (salts, 
spirits of camphor, peppermint, turpentine, eau-de-cologne, castor-oil); 
silver wire, beads, rum and old clothes; above all, black felt hats, the 
strange preference for which may arise from the fact that the natives 

* This is an edible species of holothuria or sea-slug ( Rolothuria edulh), called in 
Chinese hai-shin , and in French biche-de-mer . In China and Japan it is used in a dry state 
as a costly dainty and aphrodisiac, and consequently forms an important article of trade, 
and every year its collection and transport affords employment to a large number of ships. 
More than 12,000 piculs of this worm-like creature, worth, according to quality, from 8 
to 100 dollars the picul, are yearly brought into the Chinese market from the Malay Archi¬ 
pelago and the South Sea Islands. 

f In Penang harbour a picul of cocoanuts (113^ German lb, or about 300 nuts) is 
worth Spanish dollars, i. e ., £ 1 3s. 10d., one Spanish dollar being equal to 52 pence, 

jg ^ ^*1.1 sld 

° t Of silver coins, however, the natives only know and will only take rupees, Spanish 
dollars, and English six-penny pieces, which they call “ small rupees.” On the southern 
islands, gold is still completely unknown, and therefore worthless m the eyes ot the 
inhabitants. 





( 196 ) 


sometimes see the captains of English shipswearing black hats, and so 
come to regard this article of dress as a token of the position of captain 
or man in authority. On the Island of Car-Nicobar in 1857, the 
following relation subsisted between the number of cocoanuts delivered 
and the wares bartered for them :— 


For 

1 cutlass (worth about 1^ dollars) 

300 ripe cocoanuts. 

j) 

1 knife-blade ... 

100 

99 

99 

jj 

6 table-knife-blades 

300 

99 

99 

)j 

1 American clasp-knife 

50 

99 

99 

99 

1 axe 

300 

99 

99 


1 musket 

500 

99 

99 


1 double-barrelled gun 

2,500 

99 

99 

99 

1 large metal spoon ... 

180 

99 

99 

9* 

1 piece of silver wire 30 inches long (used as an 





ornament) 

2,500 

99 

99 

99 

1 keg of rum ... .. ... . 

2,500 

99 

99 

99 

1 bottle of arrack 

10 

99 

99 

99 

3 sticks of American, so called negro-liead, tobacco 

100 

99 

99 

9 9 

1 phial of castor oil 

50 

99 

99 

99 

1 lamp 

500 

99 

99 

99 

1 bag of rice ... 

300 

99 

99 

99 

1 piece blue calico (about 4 to 5 yards) 

100 

99 

99 

99 

1 handkerchief 

100 

99 

99 


Many natives who have come into contact with the captains 
of ships from time to time visiting these islands, possess certificates as to 
their character and honesty in the cocoanut trade. Some of the inha¬ 
bitants, however, would doubtless be less eager to exhibit these documents, 
which are generally written in English, to future visitors, if they were 
cognizant of their frequently ludicrous and not always flattering contents. 
Almost every certificate concludes with the remark, in many respects 
characteristic, that “ whoever wishes to keep on friendly terms with the 
natives, must not take liberties with their women, nor shoot their fowls 
and pigs in the jungle A These documents also contain various 
hints as to the best anchorages, the difficulties of landing on the coast 
in boats, and so on, as also catalogues of the favourite articles of barter 
and their corresponding values in cocoanuts, and are therefore in many 
ways extremely valuable helps to voyagers whom chance or commerce 
brings to these islands. 

Among the necessaries of life, next in importance to the cocoa- 
palm, stands the plantain ( pandanvs melori or odoratissimus) , one of the 
pandunus family, the fruit of which takes the place of rice and Indian 
corn, neither of which important cereals is produced on the islands, 
owing to the total neglect of agriculture by the natives. The bread¬ 
fruit tree (podocarpus incisa), the banana ( musa paradisiaca) , sugar¬ 
cane, the nutmeg tree ( wyristica moschatci) , cardamum ( elettaria carda- 
womum ), oranges and citrons, the areca-palm and the betel-vine grow 
and thrive on most of the islands : but the lazy natives in their domestic 
economy make no use of any of these useful plants except the two 
last.* 


* Of tubers we only saw the yarn (dioscorea alata ) produced in any great quantity, and 
even this root seems to be grown by the natives rather as an article of barter with strangers 
than for their own consumption. Yet the yucca (Jairopha manihot ), the sweet potato (con- 
volvulus, batata, the camote of the Spanish colonies,) and other American tubers would also 
thrive here as abundantly as in the hot and moist low grounds of the West coast of the 
New World. 








( 197 ) 


The nut of the areca-palm (arec.a catechu) and the green leaf of 
the betel pepper-vine (chavica betel) are used by the Nicobarians as by 
most of the races of Eastern Asia, for the purpose of chewing*, and have 
become articles of primary necessity. The wealth of the Nicobar forests 
in timber and ornamental woods is such that a complete exploration of 
them would be certain to yield the most favorable results. The number of 
plants collected by the botanists of the expedition amounted to 280 distinct 
species,* but the list of phanerogamous plants might easily be increased 
by one-half, if a thorough investigation of the Archipelago were made. 
Even this hasty sketch of the geographical position and natural qualities 
of this group of islands will suffice to explain the interest attaching 
to them, an interest which has not only for centuries attracted seafarers 
to the Nicobars, but has even on several occasions prompted foreign 
Governments to take possession of the group and to found settlements 
on some of the islands. 

From the time of the landing of English ship-captains in the com¬ 
mencement of the 17th and 18th centuries, to the attempts at colo¬ 
nization made by the Jesuits in 1711, by the Moravian Brethren in 
1766, and by the Danes in 1756 and 1848, no visit paid to the Nico¬ 
bars has been historical^ and politically so interesting, especially for 
Austria, as that of the Austrian ship Joseph and Theresia in the year 
1778, a visit which recalls to our minds the wise efforts of the Govern¬ 
ment of the great Empress, to found settlements and seats of trade 
in Asia and Africa, with a view to promote the commerce and industry 
of Austria. 

Hitherto nothing more has been known of this remarkable, though 
comparatively resultless expedition, than what the worthy Nicolaus 
Fontana, who accompanied the expedition as surgeon, has narrated in his 
journal of the voyage, printed at Leipzig in 1782f. Through the kind 
intercession of His Imperial Highness the Archduke Ferdinand Maxi¬ 
milian with the Belgian Government, access has been obtained to some 
extremely valuable documents relating to this expedition, which have 
been preserved in the royal archives at Brussels, and which are now, for 
the first time in their full extent, made public in the following pages. 

In the year 1774, a Dutchman named William Bolts, who had been 
previously in the service of the English East India Company, laid before 
the then Ambassador of the Empress of Austria at London, Count 
Belgiojoso, proposals for placing the Netherlands and Trieste in direct 
commercial connexion with Persia, the East Indies, China, and Africa, 
and thus supplying the Austrian ports with the most important products 
of India and China, without the expensive intervention of other 
countries. 


* In the Danish edition of Rink’s work on the “ Circumnavigation of the globe by the 
corvette Galaihea,” a catalogue is to be found of 98 genera and 260 species which were 
collected by the botanist of the Galathea on the Nicobar Islands. 

f Journal of the Voyage of the Imperial Ship Joseph und Theresia to the netv 
Austrian Colonies in Asia and Africa, addressed by JSicolaus Fontana, late Ship’s Surgeon, 
to Herr Brambilla, Surgeon to the Emperor, Protochyrurgus of the Army, Sfc. Trans¬ 
lated from the Italian manuscript , by Joseph Eyerie, 1782, Leipzig , “in der Buchhandlung 
der Gelehrten.” 



( 108 ) 


These proposals having been brought by the Ambassador to the 
notice of the Court and of the State-Chancellor, Prince Kaunitz, at 
Vienna, were favorably received by the Cabinet, and Bolts was sum¬ 
moned by the Empress to the capital, there to unfold his plans personally 
in detail. He arrived at Vienna in April 1775. On the 5th June of 
the same year the Empress nationalized him by a patent drawn up in 
her own hand, and granted him, for the foundation of a commercial 
company, a charter ( privilegiurn ) which contained, among others, the 
following favorable conditions* :— 

The administration at Trieste was charged to make over to him the 
guns necessary for the armament of his ships (Art. 8) ; the Minister of 
War was to place at his disposal the required number of sailors and petty 
officers (Art. 9) ; and his ships were privileged to carry at stem and stern 
[proa e puppa ) the Imperial ensign and broad pendant (Art. 13). Bolts 
was at the same time authorized to take possession, in the name of the 
Empress and her successors, of all territories, settlements and grounds 
which he might acquire from Indian Princes in favor of all subjects of 
the Empress disposed to carry on trade with India (Art. 14). 

It was the wish of the Imperial Government that the first expedition 
should start from Trieste ; but Bolts objected to it, because the state 
of his affairs required him to equip his ship in London, and take in part 
of his cargo there. He promised, however, to make every effort for the 
establishment of an agency at Trieste, and that, in any case, the second 
ship of his enterprise should leave Trieste in September 1776, and that 
all future departures should take place from the same port. 

Bolts betook himself, with his extremely advantageous concessions, 
first to Amsterdam and then to London, without, however, effecting more 
in one place than in the other, in respect to the contemplated formation of 
a commercial company. In the Netherlands he met with more success. 
A certain Baron von Proli and two other merchants of Antwerp, Bitter 
von Borrekens and Herr Dominik Nagels, by a covenant, dated 28th 
September 1775, entered into partnership with him and Francis By an, 
whom he had also induced to join the enterprise. The partners bound 
themselves, according to the terms of the contract, to furnish a capital 
of 900,000 guldens, for the fitting out and despatch, to the East Indies 
and China, of two trading vessels. In this amount was included the 
sum of 360,000 guldens which, in accordance with the stipulations of the 
charter of the 5th June 1775, were, under the orders of the Empress Maria 
Theresia, to be delivered in goods from the State magazines, and for which 
Bolts himself stood security. At the same time it was resolved to open 
an office for the accounts of the company at Trieste. Bolts having 
received £25,000 sterling from his partners, betook himself to London" 
where he purchased a ship, which he named Joseph und Theresia 
embarked a portion of his cargo, and set sail on the 4tli March for 


* This document is to be found printed in full in the pamphlet entitled “ Recueil des 
pieces authentiques relatives aux affaires de la ci-devant Societe Imperiale Asiatique de 
Trieste, geree a Anvers, Mo, 116 pages,” published by Bolts at Paris [ ? Brussels ] in 1787. 



( 1 " ) 


Leghorn. At this port lie was to ship the copper, iron, steel, and arms, 
which the Imperial Government had agreed to supply in consideration 
of a security of 180,000 guldens. Bolts, however, could only find 
security for the value of 58,560 guldens. Nevertheless, on the represen¬ 
tations of Baron von Proli, and having regard to the fact that Bolts 
was a man of acknowledged honesty and untarnished character, the 
Empress was gracious enough to dispense with the deposit of the 
remainder of the security originally stipulated. 

Before Bolts left Leghorn for the East Indies, the Empress further 
invested him with the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in her service, and 
for the better attainment of his objects, transmitted to him, through the 
three branches of the Imperial Chancery three comprehensive powers. 
The first of these authorized Bolts to enter into such negotiations and 
conclude such agreements with the princes and rulers of India, as might 
seem calculated to promote the interests of Her Majesty's subjects engaged 
in commerce in those distant regions ; further, to take possession of all 
territories, lands, and settlements which he might be in a position 
to acquire in this way ; to appoint the number of persons necessary 
for the maintenance of such places ; to administer to them the oath 
of allegiance, and to make all other dispositions which might appear to 
him to be needful towards the attainment of this important object.* 
The second document defined the use which he was to make of the Im¬ 
perial flag in Europe as well as in other parts of the world, while the 
third of the above-mentioned powers referred to the swearing in of 
sailors, and to regulations for maintaining discipline among the crews.f 


* Tlie original of this deed, now in the State archives of Belgium, runs literally as 
follows : — 

“ Maria Therese, etc. Notre fidele sujet Guillaume Bolts Nous a tres-humblement 
“ represente, que pendant le sejour qu’il fera aux Indes, il pourra etre dans le cas de nego- 
“ cier avec les Princes de ces contrees des concessions de comptoirs ou de territoires et des 
“ privileges au profit de Nos etats et de ceux entre Nos sujets, qui entreprendront dans la 
“ suite le commerce des Indes; que dans cette vue il desirerait d’etre autorise a traiter 
“ avee ces Souveraius, tant pour arreter avec eux des arrangements utiles au commerce, que 
“ pour recevoir en Notre nom les terrains et habitations dont il s’agit et pour pourvoir a 
“ leur conservation : Nous, approuvant les vues qui ont inspire au dit Guillaume Bolts ces 
“ demandes, 1’ autorisons, par les preseutes, d’entamer et conclure avee ces Princes et 
“ Souverains des Indes des traites et capitulations propres a avancer le commerce de Nos 
“ sujets dans ces contrees dloignees; de prendre possession de telles concessions, territoires on 
“ habitations qu’il pourra se menager de leur part; d’engager le nombre de persounes 
“ necessaires pour la conservation de ces endroits et le maintien clu bon ordre et de la police; 
“ de leur administrer en Notre nom le serment de fid&ite, et de faire telles autres disposi- 
“ tions qui lui paraitront convenables pour remplir ce but important: Voulons, que tout ce 
“ qu’il aura arrete, arrangd ou present a ce sujet, ait et sortissc son plein et eftet vigueur, 
« comme s’il avait et£ fait par Nous-meme; et cela jusqu’a ce que sur le compte qu’il Nous 
“ rendra de ses operations, Nons ayons fait connaitre la-dessus Nos intentions. 

“ Donnd a Vienne le 27 Mars 1776.” 

f “ I have in such a manner prepared these documents,” wrote Prince Kaunitz in a 
report to the Empress, dated 20 March 1776, “as to carry out your Majesty’s views in 
regard to the establishment of commercial relations between Austria and India, without 
at the same time exposing ourselves to any unpleasantness which might arise from the 
concession of indennite and unlimited powers. 





( 200 ) 


Bolts also received from the Austrian-Bohemian Chancery [0ramie 
Chancellerie cVAutriche et de Boheme) various letters of navigation 
(lettres de mer), and a so-called scontrino * for the Barb ary States; 
while the Empress in addition provided the bold leader of the enterprise 
with letters of recommendation, signed .with her own hand, to the 
Emperor of China, the King of Persia, and the Indian Princes whose 
states he might possibly visit. 

Other letters, bearing the signature of the Chancellor Prince Kaunitz, 
were placed in his hands for the lesser princes and governors of those 
countries. Baron von Proli had gone to Vienna, in order to promote, at the 
Imperial Court the enterprise in which he was so materially interested. 
From Vienna he proceeded to Leghorn, to be present at the departure of 
the first ship. At the latter place, on the 6th July 1776, he concluded a 
fresh engagement with Bolts, by virtue of which he pledged himself to 
despatch to India in each of the years 1777, 1778 and 1779 one ship with 
a cargo worth at least £30,000 sterling, while Bolts on his part undertook 
to remain in India for three years and a half, reckoning from the day of 
his arrival, and there establish factories for the sale of the goods forwarded 
thither. As a reward both for the services he had already rendered and 
for those which he was to render in establishing at Trieste and Bruges 
commercial offices for the purpose of animating the transmarine trade 
of the Austrian and Belgian provinces, and opening new communica¬ 
tions with the East, Baron von Proli was raised by Maria Theresia to 
the rank of Austrian Count. 

The Ship Joseph und Theresia , destined for the East coast of 
Africa, the coasts of Malabar, Coromandel, and Bengal, sailed in Sep¬ 
tember 1766 from Leghorn with a crew of 155 men. Contrary winds 
compelled Bolts to touch the Brazilian coast and take in fresh provisions at 
Rio de Janeiro. Thence he made for Delagoa on the Sacramento River,f 
opposite the Island of Madagascar, where he had the misfortune, on 
20th March 1777, to suffer shipwreck, and to lose a portion of his crew. 
Bolts however emplo}^ed his involuntary detention on this coast to found 
a factory. From two African Kings Mohaar Capell and Chibauraan 
Matola, as also from the Chief Bileme Masoumo, who paid tribute to the 
latter King, he purchased a number of pieces of ground, and con¬ 
cluded treaties of commerce and friendship with the two Kings, while in 
the name of the Emperor and Empress he received the oath of allegiance 
from Prince Bileme Masoumo. Both the deeds of sale and the treaties, 
which bear the respective dates of 5th and 7th May 1777, were pre¬ 
pared in duplicate. One copy was sent by Bolts to Prince Kaunitz 
at Vienna, in a despatch from Goa, dated 28th October 1777, the other 
copy he retained himself. 


* A piece of parchment cut zigzag fashion out of a book, which was formerly used by 
seamen when trading with the Barbary States, in order that captains of privateers, if they 
could not read, might be able to decide to what nation a vessel belonged by comparing the 
counterfoils in their possession with the cut out leaves ( scontrino ), one of which was 
giveu to merchantmen. 

f Latitude 25°—28°’ N. 





( 201 ) 


In the collection of documents published by Bolts in 1787 at 
Brussels, the expenses involved in the settlement at Delagoa are thus set 
forth :—• 


Cost of the first settlement and purchase of ground on both banks of the ) 
River Masoumo ... - 

The Snow* * * § Ottino , used as 
inclusive of her cargo ... 

Two vessels for the ivory 
Malabar ; viz :— 

The “ Keche” Count Proli (including caro-o) 

The “ Keche” Ferdinando 


a floating factory on the River Masoumo, 
trade between Delagoa and the coast of 


Florins. 

12,156 

19,125 

48,695 

46,291 


Total 126,267 

• _ — 

In order protect the infant factory. Bolts erected two forts, to 
which he gave the names of St. Joseph and St, Theresia, and which he 
mounted with guns. From Delagoa he set sail for Surat, where he arrived 
on the 4th September 1777. Thence he proceeded to Bombay, and 
afterwards to Goa. The royal archives at Brussels contain several 
letters written by Bolts from Bombay, under date the 20th March, and 
from Goa, dated the 13th April 1778. In a letter of the latter date, 
addressed to Mr. Pietro Proli, the death at Madras of the partner By an 
is announced, and a list is given of some 34 letters and documents, 
copies of which were at the same time forwarded to Europe.f 

During his stay at Goa, Bolts, on the 15th of April 1778, received 
from the Governor of the place the concession of special privileges in 
favor of subjects of the Empress and Austrian ships purposing to trade 
at the port of Daman between Surat and Bombay. 


On reaching the Malabar Coast, Bolts purchased from Nawab 
Hyder Ali Khan, as factory-sites, several pieces of ground in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of Mangalore, Carwar, and Balliapatam, in the centre of the 
pepper districts. The cost of these establishments amounted tof :— 

FI. lvr. 

Purchase of ground, erection of buildings and magazines ... ... 27,474 12 
A sloop for communication with Mangalore ... ... ... 600 0 

Total ... ... 28,074 12 


No further details are traceable as to the agreement concluded by 
Bolts with Hyder Ali in regard to the disposal of the above-mentioned 
plots of ground, except indeed the remark § that no guns were to be used 
in the factories, nor were the dwellings and magazines to assume the 
appearance of forts. 


* A small, sharp-bowed, two-masted craft. 

f In this letter Bolts observes among other things—“ J’essuie toute sorte d’empeche- 
rnents et de tracasseries de la part de 1’Anglais . . . . Ils ont ecrit a tous leurs gouverne- 
meuts d’Asie, non seulement pour s’opposer de toutes leurs forces a notre entreprise, 
mais sous des poines rigoureuses, ils defendent a tons leurs serviteurs d’avoir aucune com¬ 
munication avec notre expedition.” 

+ Compare, ‘ Recueil des pieces authentiques relatives aux affaires dc la ci-devant Societe 
Imperiale Asiatique de Trieste, geree a Anvers,’ Bruxelles, 1787, p. 78. 

§ ‘ Recueil, &c.,’ p, 107. 


26 









( 202 ) 


In a letter written by Bolts from Bombay, on 12tli March 1779, to 
one of his partners, he expresses his determination to proceed with a cargo 
of cotton and pepper to the Coromandel Coast and Bengal; he would 
then again visit the coast of Bengal with the Ship Joseph und Theresia 
and a second craft which he intended to purchase, and afterwards 
to sail direct from the factory at Carwar for Europe. In another letter 
written from Madras, under date 1st July 1779, by First Lieutenant 
Van Niissel, it is said “ we intend to set sail from this for Bengal on the 
] 0th July, thence we shall return once more to the Coromandel Coast, 
to take in the rest of our cargo, which consists of pepper, after which 
we shall proceed to Europe/'’ 

The Nicobar Islands had already been occupied a year before 
(April 1778) by Bolts, or rather by the Captain of the Joseph und 
Theresia, named Bennett, who had founded a factory there. This is 
apparent from a passage in the before-mentioned journal of Surgeon 
Fontana, wherein it is said : “ It was not till the 20th March 1778 
that we left the Malabar Coast to continue our voyage to the Isles 
of Nicobar, situated in the Bay of Bengal near the northern part of 
Sumatra, between 8° and 9° N. Lat. We remained there from 1st 
April till 4th September 1778, and during this interval, with the con¬ 
sent of the natives, took possession, in the name of His Majesty 
the Emperor Joseph II, of the Islands of Nancoveri (Nancowry), 
Souri (Chowry or Car-Nicobar), Trieutte (Trinkuttee), and Catchiout 
(Katchall) 

The records preserved at Vienna and Brussels contain no further 
details as to this enterprise. On the other hand, in the frequently-quoted 
Recueil (page 78) a brief memorandum may be found of the expense 
incurred in establishing this colony. 

FI Kr. 

Cost of the first settlement, dwelling houses, &c. ... ... 36,969 48 

A goelette for the use of the colony ... ... ... 850 0 

The Snow BorreTcens for communication with Madras and Pegu,') - n n 
in order to keep the Colony supplied with means of subsistence ... j 10,440 

Total ... 48,259 48 

In 1781 Bolts returned to Europe; on the 27th April he anchored 
off Cadiz, and reached in the following month Leghorn, the destination 
of his voyage. 

The final results of this expedition were not favorable to the firm of 
Bolts, Proli, and Co.; the losses more than counterbalanced the receipts, 
and the Company found itself unable to meet its engagements. Proli 
and his partners at Antwerp had been endeavouring to obtain a special 
commercial charter in order to be independent of Bolts.* 


* The failure of the undertaking seems to have been less due to rash speculations 
than to Count Proli’s jealousy of Bolts. Although the several factories on the Coasts 
of Coromandel and Malabar had begun to yield profits, yet, in accordance with a proposal 
which Proli, on the 2nd May 1782, laid before Count Coblenz, they were given up, in 
order to found others at Canton. * 


Compare ‘ Memorie politico-economiclic, della citta e territorio di Trieste, della penisola 
lstria e della Dalmazia, di G. do B—n. (Giuseppe Brodmann). Venezia 1821, Tipografia 
di Alvisopoli’; also * Del Commercio c dell’ industria, cec.’, di F. E. J. Barraux. Venezia 
1828, Tipografia ITcotti. 







( 203 ) 


Bolts, however, repaired to the Netherlands, where the Emperor 
Joseph II then was, and when he had made himself acquainted with that 
monarch's intentions, he signed, on the 9th August 1781, at Antwerp, 
third agreement with Proli, Borrekens, and Nagels. The main object 
of this agreement was the formation of a new company, with a capital 
of two million guldens, to which Bolts promised to cede his privileaiuM 
of the 5th June 1775. 

In a special deed, dated Vienna the 6th October 1781, Jthe Emperor 
Joseph II approved and confirmed this agreement, and authorized the part¬ 
ners in the enterprise to raise a sum of two million guldens in the way 
of a loan, in shares of 2,000 guldens, which were to be negotiable like 
Government securities. a We are further pleased," says the Emperor, 
“ to suspend for the present our claim against Herr Bolts, for the 
articles delivered to him by our military and financial departments, 
as cargo for the Ship Joseph unci Theresia , provided that we shall not 
be field responsible for any indemnification for tfie acquisition, occu¬ 
pation, or restoration of factories, or for any other outlay whatever, which 
Herr Bolts or his partners, in the interest of their business, may have 
made or may hereafter think fit to make. On the other hand, we reserve 
to ourselves the right of purchasing from the company, after the expiration 
of the charter, those possessions the acquisition of which may appear 
desirable in the interests of our subjects." Bolts, putting his own 
interpretation on that clause in the patent of 27th March 1776, which 
authorized him to take possession of territories acquired in India, and to 
employ the number of persons necessary for the occupation of such 
places, and the maintenance of public order, had in 1779 drawn 
bills on the Empress' account upon the firm of Proli and Co., to meet 
the expenses involved in keeping up the factories erected in the terri¬ 
tories acquired. This proceeding was thought very strange at the Court 
of Vienna, and Prince Kaunitz, in a letter dated 30th September 1779, 
informed Count von Proli that Bolts' demands were not admissible.* The 
clause in the charter of 6th October 1781 was accordingly intended to 
prevent further claims being made by the chief of the enterprise. 

The new company constituted at Antwerp bj the agreement of 27th 
August 1781 [Societe Imperiale Asiatique de Trieste ), the Directors of 
which were, as before, Messrs. Bolts, Proli, Borrekens and Nagels, began 
its operations under favorable auspices; but a series of adverse 
occurrences, and the conclusion of peace between France, England, and 
Holland, at a moment when it was least expected, again brought ruin 
upon the undertaking in the course of a few years. In 1785, the com¬ 
pany declared itself insolvent. Bolts, who was then in Paris, received 
there proposals for the cession or sale of the factories founded on the 
Malabar Coast, and laid them before Prince Kaunitz. The Chancellor 
replied thereto on 5th April 1786 : “as regards the establishments and 
factories which you have founded in India, apart from the general 


* «L’objet du plein-pouvoir du 27 Mars 1770,” writes Kaunitz, “ n’a jamais pu 
eti’e que de donner du poids aux demarches de Bolts, ct d’assurer a S. M. la souverninete 
des etablissements futurs ; raais selon toutc interpretation et usage 1 - 09113 , les frais doivent 
etre supportes par ceux qui en acquierent la propriete. 





( 204 } 


advantages which the subjects of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness 
the Grand Duke may be able to derive from them, they cannot in any 
ease be disposed of, so long as the affairs of the insolvent company are 
not finally wound up. Hence you can yourself draw the conclusion that 
you have no option but to decline the offers made to you in this matter.” 

Bolts died at Paris, in great poverty, on 28th April 1808.* * Michaud, 
in his Bibliographie TJniverselle , devotes an article of some length 
to this more enterprising than clear-sighted man. 

•fc***-**** 

Most of the settlements hitherto made on the Nicobars have gone 
to wreck from want of care in the selection and arrangement of the 
site chosen for colonization, and from want of capital. The Missionaries 
who made these islands the focus of their evangelizing efforts were 
never housed and fed,—the first condition of health in such hostile 
climates. Spade in hand, often while actually fever-stricken, they were 
compelled, in order to secure the means of support, to till the ground in 
the most oppressive heat; or else they gathered shells on the shore, 
and hunted for birds and reptiles in the swampy virgin forest, to procure 
the means of further subsistence by the sale of their collections in 
Europe, f 

Nor were the attempts of colonisation made by the Danes followed by 
better results. Undertaken and prosecuted as they were with insufficient 
means, they could but hold the position of a passing phenomenon, and did 
at most contribute some gains to science. Still, notwithstanding various 
unsuccessful attempts, the interest taken in the Nicobars did not 
abate, and on the 25th January 1846, Captain Steen Bille, com¬ 
manding the Danish Corvette Galathea, solemnly took possession of the 
Nicobar group in the name of the King of Denmark. Two natives, 
Lulia and Angre, father and son, the former an inhabitant of the 
village of Malacca, the latter of the village of Enuang on the Island 
of Nancowry, were, on this occasion, installed as petty chiefs, and 


* Bolts had.several.times essayed authorship. In 1771, he published at London two 
quarto volumes in English, entitled Considerations on Indian Affairs. It was also trans¬ 
lated iuto French. As already remarked his ‘llecueil des pieces aulhentiques, See.? appeared 
at Brussels in 1787. 

f Reverend J. G. Haensel, one of the Moravian Brethren, who spent from 1779 to 1787 
on the Nicobars amid the greatest privations, and by whom an extremely interesting 
account of the group lias been published, writes in his kindly simple way (page 36)—“ I had 
the satisfaction to perceive the blessing of God resting upon these exertions, by which a 
considerable part of the expenses of the mission was defrayed, there having been at the 
time a great demand for productions of this kind in England, Holland, Denmark, and other 
parts of Europe. And in another place (page 23), he writes : “Our external situation be¬ 

came more and more irksome, and we could scarcely procure the means of subsistence. My 
health had suffered so much from continual sickness, anxiety, and hard labor, that I was 

apparently fast approaching my end. I had running sores in my legs, and a total obstruc¬ 
tion with tormenting pains in my bowels, and expected that mortification would soon 
take place and put an end to my misery.” See ‘ Letters on the Nicobar Islands, their 
natural productions, and the manners &c., of the natives,’ addressed by Rev. J. G. Haensel 
(the only surviving Missionary ) to Reverend C. J. Latrobe, London, 1812. 



( 205 ) 


each invested with a staff bearing the name of “ Christian VIII/ 
The duties prescribed them, as detailed in a document drawn up id 
Danish and English, consisted, however, principally in hoisting the Danish 
flag on the arrival or departure of foreign ships into or from the harbour 
of Nan cowry* 

But on the death of King Christian VIII, the Danish Govern¬ 
ment, considering the course of political events at the time, was dis¬ 
inclined to take de facto possession of the Nicobars by a permanent 
settlement; and at the commencement of the year 1848, a Danish man- 
of-war! the Royal Corvette Valkyrien , was again sent to the Archipelago, 
this time with the object of removing the Danish flags and staves which 
had been left on the islands.f 

The claim of the Danes to possession of the Nicobars was thus 
de facto abandoned. Since then, indeed, according to Thornton’s 
Gazetteer of India , several petty chiefs of Car-Nicobar, the most 
northern island of the group, are said to have hoisted the English flag, 
and to have conveyed to the British Government, through English 
merchants settled at Moulmein, the expression of their wish to place 
themselves under the protection of the British Crown. 

This intelligence, so far as it relates to the conduct of the native 
chiefs, seems to be not altogether exact. The truth is, that the inhabitants 
will hoist any flag that is given them, because they like to imitate 
Europeans, and fancy themselves thereby protected against the claims 
of other nations. But there is nothing they really dread more than an 
actual seizure of their islands, and on the appearance of a ship of war 


# As a proof with how little energy and practical tact even the Danes went to work in 
their various attempts at colonization on the Nicobars, the following remarks of Mr. Topping, 
an English Officer in the service of the East India Company, may here he quoted. 
Topping visited the Nicobars in October 1790, in the Cutter Mary, and met some of the 
settlers in the harbour of Nancowry. “Went on shore to the establishments, but found 
no European there to support, with due parade, the King of Denmark’s presumptive 
authority in the island. A country-born Dutch-descended Sergeant was commandant of 
the place, and had with him two mulatto soldiers, two sepoys, one artilleryman, and two 
caffre slaves—all, excepting the Negroes, in His Danish Majesty’s pay. The whole duty re¬ 
quired of them seemed to be to hoist a swallow-tailed Danish flag upon a bamboo pole ; to 
take charge of three or four old ill-mounted, unserviceable iron guns and a few rounds of 
powder and ball, given them for the defence of the settlement! and (the most difficult task of 
all) to preserve themselves from the pressing attacks of hunger and disease. Their habita¬ 
tion, a truly wretched one, was half eaten up by white-ants. It has at first only a thatched 
roof to cover it, which being out of repair, afforded them scarcely any shelter against the 
heavy and almost continual rains that vex these desolate regions. The poor people complained 
bitterly of their condition, and in particular of their being left like banished criminals with 
a bare subsistence, unconsoled by any of those little additional comforts and indulgences 
so dreary and unhealthy a situation entitles them to, and indeed gave us no great reason, 
either by their language or appearance, to think very highly of the bounty or humanity of 
the Governor General at Tranquebar, who, to say the truth, seems to have no other end in 
keeping possession of this post than to exercise their exclusive right of dominion there in 
imitation of the surly and too common example of the cur in the fable .”—Journal of a 
Voyage in the Bay of Bengal, Sfc„ published in ‘ Selections from the Records of the Madras 
Government,’ 1855, No. XIX, pp. 31-35. 

f ‘ Hamburger Correspondent’ of 30th April 1848. «India Political Despatches’ of 1st 

February 1848. Friend of India for 1853, p. 455. 




( 206 ) 


they are always in extreme trepidation lest they should be deprived at 
once of their freedom and their coeoanuts.* It is far more probable that 
English ship captains who trade with these islands, with a view to the 
greater security of a traffic so profrtable as that in cocoanuts, have made 
representations to the East India officials, and attemjited to bring 
about the occupation of this important group in the same way as the 
Andamans have been recently annexed, before any other European power 
can take possession of it. f 

Thus, as far as the climate or the claims of other Governments are 
concerned, there appears to exist no reason why the flag of Austria* should 
not again float, and that permanently, on these shores, where it was once 
unfurled 85 years ago. 

Only a few days voyage from Madras, Moulmein, and Calcutta, lying 
between Ceylon on the one hand, and the Malay Peninsula on the other, 
almost at the mouth of the Straits of Malacca, and within reach of easy 
intercourse with the large groups of islands of the Chinese and Japanese 
Seas, the Nicobar Islands offer sufficient points of attraction for a maritime 
and commercial power to make it worth while to attempt their occu¬ 
pation. But if the attempt at colonization is again to be made, neither 
money nor men must be spared. The cost of the first clearance and 
cultivation, if a favorable result is to be expected, cannot be calculated 
at less than 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 florins. J The number of Malay and 
Indian laborers to be employed under European s upervision in the 
gradual clearance of forest, embankment of streams, drainage of swamps, 
and cultivation of the soil, would amount to at least 400 or 500. 

At the same time it would not be right to regard the sums spent in 
the first foundation of a colony as altogether lost; for the great fertility 
of the soil, which is suited to the production of the most important tropi- 


# A saying prevails among the natives, spread probably by cunning and self-interested 
chiefs, that if ever a European should settle among them, all the cocoanuts will at once 
drop from the trees, and that they will thus be deprived for ever of their most important 
means of subsistence. 

f That England has not yet taken possession of the Nieobars, in spite of their im¬ 
portant and favourable position, is chiefly, no doubt, due to the fact that the British Govern¬ 
ment already holds the most flourishing settlements in the immediate neighbourhood. Penang, 
Singapore and Malacca, only 380 to 400 English miles distant on one side, and the 
Island of Ceylon on the other, completely fulfil all maritime, commercial, and strategical 
demands. 

X The Commander of the expedition, Commodore B. von Wiillerstorf, in a memoran¬ 
dum on the occupation of the Nieobars, calculated the cost of such a settlement for the 


first year as follows :— 

Florins. 

Fitting out of ships and transports ... ... 600,000 

Tools, machinery, &c. ... ... ... ... 150,000 

Extraordinary labor ... ... ... ... 200,000 

Purchase of ground from the natives in coin or by barter, 

and cost of imported articles of food ... ... 100,000 

Unforeseen expenses ... ... ... 100,000 


Total ... 1 , 150,000 








( 207 ) 


cal products, {e.g., sugar, coffee, cocoa, cotton, indigo, spices, tobacco, &c.) * 
would, under the influence of cultivation and industry, speedily develop 
numerous sources of profit. On those islands where the cocoa-palm 
prevails in abundance, factories might at once be established on the spot 
for the manufacture of oil and soap from the flesh of the cocoanut, and 
for the production of cables, cordage, and matting from the fibre, while in 
places where the planting of sugar-cane promises good results, sugar 
boileries, &c., might be set up. The cultivation of rice, tobacco, and grass 
for fodder, and the extension of the yam and banana plantations should 
also at once be taken in hand. 

The places best fitted for projects of settlement and cultivation are, 
Car-Nicobar, the most northern island, and nearest to the Andaman 
group, and the fertile sandstone and clay slate soil of the Islands of 
Pulo-Milo, Condul, and the Great and Little Nicobar, in the southern 
group. 

All these islands are rich in excellent building material, while the 
plastic clays of the northern islands are as well suited for bricks and 
tiles as for pottery; the sandstones of the southern islands yield excel¬ 
lent masonry materials; moreover lime is everywhere to be procured in 
inexhaustible quantities from the natural agency of the coral insects. 


# Looking to the great similarity, not to say identity, between the climate, soil, and 
flora of the Nicobars, and of the neighbouring islands and continents, I may be allowed 
here to refer to an extremely comprehensive work by an Austrian naturalist, the learned 
Dr. J. Heifer ‘ On the Tenasserim Provinces, the Mergui Archipelago, and the Andaman 
Islands,’ a work which would offer many valuable hints for the colonization of the Nicobar 
group. This comprehensive memoir is to be found in the Contributions of the Imperial 
Geographical Society of Vienna, vol. HI, 1859, part 3, pp. 167-390. 




( 208 ) 


Contributions to the Geology and Physical Geography of the Nicoler 
Islands.—By Dr. F. von Hochstetter, (translated by Dr. F. 
Stoliczka from the “ Voyage of the Austrian Frigate Novara round 
the world in 1857-59).” 

The Nicobar Islands (pi. 1) belong to an area of elevation which 
can be traced from the Bay of Bengal far into the southern seas. Begin¬ 
ning under the 18th degree north latitude in the group of the Cheduba 
and Reguain Islands on the coast of Arracan, passing through the 
Andamans and Nicobars, then continuing through Java, Sumatra, 
and the south-western group of the Sunda Islands, this line of elevation 
bends in an oblique S-form through New Guinea, to the north of 
the Australian continent, and forms in New Ireland the Solomon 
Islands, New Hebrides and New Zealand, a curve, concave towards 
the west, the small group of the Macquarie Islands being possibly con¬ 
sidered as the extreme southern end of this curve. Winding from the 
northern into the southern hemisphere through 70 degrees of latitude, 
this line, or area, is characterized as one of elevation by two phenomena, 
totally different in their nature, but nevertheless equally grand, and in 
certain respects related to each other. These phenomena ar e, first, the 
activity of the interior of the earth, showing itself in the volcanic 
action; and secondly , the activity of the coralline animals, disclosing 
itself in the formation of that kind of coral reefs which Darwin has 
distinguished from the barrier or lagoon reefs under the name of 
fringing or coast reefs. 

Both phenomena,—the volcanic action with its elevatory power, and 
the formation of coast reefs, are, in certain respects, related to each other, 
as has been placed beyond a doubt by Darwin's observations, although 
both do not appear together along all parts of this area. In the 
southern extra-tropical latitudes, where coralline life does not exist on 
that large scale, the volcanic action is the only marked one, and 
equally so in tropical latitudes to the north of the equator,—where 
that action is locally wanting,—the peculiar formation of coral reefs 
must be considered as the principal argument for the continuation 
of this line of elevation. This is the case at the Nicobar Islands. 

These islands occupy a gap without volcanoes, between the 
volcanic range of Sumatra and the Barren and Narcondam Islands, 
which lie to the east of the Andamans. 

Whatever may be hidden in the interior of the Nicobar Islauds, 
covered with perfectly impenetrable primeval forests and grassy plains, 
the occurrence of more recent volcanic rocks is the least probable. 
Although 1 have found on the north side of Car-Nicobar, the northern¬ 
most of the island, two pieces of a porous basaltic rock, the size of a 
man's hand, in a coarse gravel in the forest near the village Mous, 
and a larger angular fragment in the coral sand on the strand near 
the village Saui, still there is more reason to believe that these frag¬ 
ments were transported to the coast of Car-Nicobar in the roots of 


( 209 ) 


stranded trees,* or even that tliev were remains from the travelling 
bags of the Danish naturalists of the Corvette Galathea ,—who, in 
1846, shortly before they landed on Car-Nicobar, visited the volcanic 
Barren island,—than that they came from the interior of the island. 

I have in vain searched for similar pieces in the stream and river 
gravels of Car-Nicobar, and 1 have not met with them on any of the 
other islands on which we landed. 

On the other hand, the Nicobar Islands are distinctlv characterized 
as a portion of the chain of oceanic elevations, which began in former 
geological periods, and still continues, by the upheaved coral banks and 
by the continuous formation of coral reefs, which slowly, but in the 
course of hundreds and thousands of years perceptibly, enlarge the 
territory of the islands. 

The Austral-Asiatic area of elevation, above indicated in its entire 
extent, has in the Nicobars a mean direction to N. 20° W. or from 
S. S. E. to N. N. W., possessing a length of 148 English (=37 German 
geographical) miles, and a width of 16 English (=4 geographical) 
miles. This direction indicates at the same time the strike of the 
strata on all the islands, while the dip is either towards east or west. 
The synclinals and anticlinals in the geological structure of the islands 
are thus coincident with the direction of the great geological line of 
elevation which connects the northern point of Sumatra with the group 
of the Andaman Islands. 

The total area of all the islands is calculated to be 33 to 34 
German (geographical) square miles (equal to about 528—544 English.) 


I.-GEOGRAPHICAL FORMATIONS. 

To render properly intelligible the results which will be given in 
the following pages, I may be permitted to make a few preliminary 

remarks. 

It is at present extremely difficult to make any detailed geological 
observations on the Nicobar Islands. One is limited to the sea coast, as 
impenetrable forests and grassy plains make the mteiioi of the islands 
perfectly inaccessible and hide the rocks. On the northern smaller 
islands, this circumstance is of less importance, because the extent of 
the rocks through a whole island can easily he ascertained, as soon 
as it is possible to observe them on two opposite sides of the coast 
in the same stratigraphical relation. The case is different with the 
southern larger islands. Sambillang or Great Nicobar has an area 
of 17J geographical square miles, and is larger than all the other islands 
put together; it offers in the mountain ranges (rising up to 2,000 feet), 


* Chamisso mentions the transport of stones in the roots of stranded trees on the 
Radek group, and Darwin gives a similar example from the Kieling Islands. (“ Darwin’s 
Natural History Travels,” part, II, p. 242). 


27 








( 210 ) 


and deep valleys, such a variety in the configuration of the ground, 
that it is impossible to suppose that what is to be seen on one or the 
other point at the coast should be characteristic for the whole island. 
The mouths of rivers being generally occupied by mangrove swamps, it 
is even impossible to come to any conclusions from gravels as to the rock 
which is to be found in the interior. But even on the coast there are 
great obstacles to geological investigation. Wherever the inquiring 
eye of the geologist observes promising cliffs, there breakers make it 
generally impossible to land, and where landing can be effected, we 
usually meet only a flat coast. 

Thus one is limited in one's observations to the few points where, 
during low water, it becomes practicable to reach from the sandy shore 
some rocky promontory; and even under the best circumstances, I was 
always restricted to that part of the coast on which the frigate 
anchored, for no amount of promises and offers could induce the 
natives to undertake longer trips with their canoes, neither was it 
possible to have a boat from the frigate placed at my disposal. I hope 
that other geologists, who may in future visit these islands, will be 
more successful in this respect. 

IVly observations were therefore confined to the following places :— 

1. — North-western coast of Gar-Nicobar. —A low precipitous coast 
accessible along its entire extent. Thick clay beds, with some more 
solid strata of sandstone, containing Fucoids , are on this coast overlaid 
by upheaved coral banks (coral conglomerate and coral sandstone) ; 
these are in some places still in direct communication with living coast 
reefs. 

2. — Southern Bay of Car-Nicobar .—Flat coral ground with fringing 
reefs, and at the breakers banks of a recent sandstone. 

3. —Novara Bay on the west, coast of Titiangchong .—Precipitously 
rising cliffs of serpentine and gabbro conglomerate at the breakers 
coast reefs. 

4. —Channel between Carmorta and Nan cowry, or Nancowry Har¬ 
bour. —A deep transverse cleft through yellow clay-marls, containing 
magnesia, alternating with beds of serpentine and gabbro traps, and 
pierced through by serpentine and gabbro. A long stretching coral 
reef formation exists in the channel, but coral ground is very limited. 

5. —The small islands Trice and Track north of Little Nicobar; 
precipitously upheaved ; clayey sandstone beds with imbedded pieces 
of bituminous brown-coal; coral and conglomerate banks and 
fringing reefs. 

6. — Pulo Milu. —A small island on the north side of Little Nico¬ 
bar, consisting of strongly raised sandstone beds, with flat coral ground, 
fresh water alluvium, and fringing reefs round flic whole island, 


( 211 ) 


/.—Island of Kondul on the north side of Great Nicobar.— Sand¬ 
stone, sandy slates, and beds of clay-marl alternating with each other, 

flat coral ground of very limited extent, fresh water alluvium, and 
fringing reefs. 

small bay on the northern coast of Great Nicobar. —Sand¬ 
stone hills, salt and brackish water swamps. 

9.— East side of the southern bay (Galathea Bay) of Great Nico¬ 
bar, into which flows the Galathea river; sandstone mountains ; flat 
coral ground, coral and conglomerate formation at the level of the 
breakers, fringing reefs ; pebbles of bituminous coal on the strand. 

These places are, with the exception of Car-Nicobar, the same as 
were seen by the Danish geologist Dr. Rink, accompanying the 
expedition of the Danish Corvette Galathea in 1846, and \yere,—besides 
many others in the Archipelago, visited by him during a stay of four 
months,—described in a special work.* 

As to scientific inquiry, I left the Nicobars quite unsatisfied in 
spite of the comparatively long time of one month which we spent in 
their waters. I know how little my own observations increase the 
geological knowledge of the islands, for which we are indebted to 
Dr. Rink : for just the grandest objects, the Islands Terressa, Little and 
Great Nicobar , remained for me altogether a terra incognita. But I am 
conscious of having done everything that it was possible to do under the 
circumstances, and in this point of view the few observations I can 
offer must be criticised. 

Car-Nicobar is a low island, the average height of which above 
the level of the sea amounts to about 45 feet; only two ridges, which 
may be from 180 to 200 feet high, rise in the interior above the forest 
which covers nearly the whole island. The west, south, and east, 
coasts are flat and sandv, and the N. W. and S. E. monsoons 
accumulate gradually higher and higher upon them fragments of corals 
and shells, which pass over the fringing reefs surrounding the whole 
island. The south coast is in part swampy, only the northern, or 
rather the north-western, coast, forming the shore of the bay of Saui, 
is precipitous, allowing a view of the geological structure of the 
island; the section of this coast is given in the sketch pi. 2, fig. 1 — 
Eastern shore of the Bay of Saui. 1—Loose coral and shell-sand : 
2—dead coral banks: 3—indurated rock-beds of dead corals and 

shell-sand : 4—plastic-clay with bands of sandstone. 

The eastern shore of the bay gradually rises from north to 
south up to a height of about 60 feet, and includes two small lateral 
bays in which massive banks of a grey clay crop out below upheaved 


* Die Nikobarischen Inseln, eine geogra phische Skizze, mit specieller Beriicksiehtigung 
der Geognosie, Kopenhagen, 1847. (The Nicobar Islands, a geographical sketch with special 
reference to geology). 



( 21 * ) 


coral banks which form the projecting corners of the cliff. It is very 
characteristic that the boundary of calcareous and clay strata on the 
surface of the coast terrace is at the same time a sharp limit of vege¬ 
tation, inasmuch as on the clayey ground the cocoa-palm is replaced 
by pandanus , casuarina and grass, forming locally quite extensive 
grassy plains. The clay deposits, without any distinct stratification, 
show a cubical cleavage. The prevailing color is light-grey, only 
single bands are darker colored, others are ferruginous, containing 
numerous clay-ironstone nodules. The clay is a little calcareous, effer¬ 
vescing with acids. In the southern lateral bay also appears between 
the clay beds a more solid stratum from two to three feet thick, and 
from its projecting part larger and smaller plates are broken off. On 
one of these plates I observed the impression of a large species of 
Fucus (Chondrites Nicobarensis, IToclist.) The strike of the strata 
is from S. S. E. to N. W. in both bays, the greatest thickness 
observable in the strata amounts to 20 or 30 feet. This clay deposit 
on the northern coast of Car-Nicobar is characterized as a marine 
formation by the numerous Foraminifera which it contains, but I did 
not succeed in finding any recognizable remains of Mollusca , except 
indistinct and badly preserved bivalves (Pelecypoda) .* 

Farther towards the south, the clay beds again sink under the 
level of the sea, and in their place again appear coral banks, the 
precipitous coast becoming constantly higher, but at the same time 
gradually more inaccessible. On this coast the sea has washed out deep 
hollows, and the coral-banks are overlaid by massive banks of a white 
rock consisting of shell and coral sand, and rather soft on the 
weathered surface. On the Areca river, in the innermost corner of the 
bay of Saui, the plateau of about 60 feet rapidly terminates with a 
fault, and the southern shore of the bay only exhibits a flat sandy 
strand richly overgrown with cocoanut trees, being at the same time 
thickly populated. Judging from a few lumps in the gravel which I 
found on the northern as well as on the southern side, I conclude 
that there is somewhere in the interior of the island a grey fine¬ 
grained sandstone with little flakes of white mica and also compact 
limestone in situ. The natives use the sandstone from the gravels 
for grindstones. 

Batty Malve is a small rocky island with precipitous shores all 
round. It rises on the south-eastern and eastern side in two terraces to 
about 150 feet. On the western and north-western side it runs into 
a low flat cliff; judging from a distance of two or three nautical 
miles—we did not come nearer—the island is inaccessible. The ex¬ 
treme shore seemed to be covered with grass only^ the interior was 
a low jungle, the crown of cocoa-palm being here and there visible 
at its margin. Only opposite Car-Nicobar can the island give an 


* The description of the very well preserved Foraminifera from the above described 
clayey beds was undertaken by Dr. K. Schwager. His very valuable paper will be appended 
to this chapter of the Nicobar Islands, and for farther results I here refer to this paper. 





( 213 ) 


impression of a “ relatively bare rock,” as Steen Bille* says. The 
rocks to be found on the island are most probably the same as those of 
Car-Nicobar. 

Tillangchong, situated opposite Car-Nicobar, is a narrow mountain¬ 
ous island with precipitous cliffs, stretching from N. W. towards 
S. E.; it consists of two rugged mountain ranges separated by a 
depression of only 30 feet in depth. Where, on the S. E. both 
rauges meet, a deep bay is formed, which, during the N. W. monsoon, 
offers an excellent place for anchorage. The less precipitous south¬ 
western coast is accompanied by a few rocky cliffs, while the north¬ 
eastern coast is highly precipitous all along the shore. The highest 
hills are situated in the northern part of the island, apparently rising 
to an elevation of about 500 feet. Serpentine and gabbro form no 
doubt the great mass of the island.—pi. 2, fig. 2.— South-east coast of 
Tillanchong. 1—coral-rocks : 2—serpentine and gabbro : 3—breccia : 
4—sharply elevated rock-beds. 

In the small bay on the south-western coast, Novara Bay, in 
which the frigate was lying at anchor for a few hours, the irregular 
and cliff-like shores are composed of common serpentine, often 
traversed with veins of hornstone, and the same is the case with 
the thickly wooded mountain slopes, as far as could be observed 
in the small rocky beds of streams. The shore exhibited a very 
great variety in the color of the serpentine, jasper and hornstone 
pebbles : besides these, however, there were noticed numerous pebbles 
of a dark green diallage rock, which must no doubt be in situ some¬ 
where on the same coast at no great distance. 

From the angular fragments of serpentine and other masses in 
the course of decomposition, a ferruginous breccia is formed at the 
foot of the hills, while in the breakers the serpentine gravels are being 
cemented by coral and shelly sand forming solid sandstone and 
conglomerate banks which recall the Yerde-antique, (Ophicalcite). 
The plateau of the coast reefs extends 200 to 300 feet from the precipi¬ 
tous shore into the sea. The whole of the island was covered with 
thick primeval forest which thrives well, even on the serpentine 
ground. 

In passing along there were observed on the southern part of the 
island and on the eastern coast thin-bedded rocks with a high dip; 
these were in massive cliffs almost perpendicular in the south-eastern 
bay with a columnar structure; their true nature remained, however, 
unknown to me, for I was unfortunately obliged to use the telescope 
in place of the geological hammer. 

Carmorta , Trinkut, Nancowry with Katcliall form the middle group 
of the Nicobar Islands. Trinkut is situated in front of the 'eastern 
entrance of a channel between Carmorta and Nancowry; it is a low 


* Captain Steen Bille was Commander of the Danish Ship Oalathea. 




( 214 * ) 


island surrounded by coral reefs, and on its southern coast whitish- 
yellow argillaceous marls crop out. Carmorta and Nancowry exhibit 
a greater variety of formation,—pi. 2, fig. 3 .—Sections of Carmorta 
and Trinkut. 1—gabbro and serpentine : 2—breccia and tufa : 3—clay 
marl with sandy beds : 4—coral-rocks. The channel between the two 
islands, Nancowry Harbour, has numerous small bays, and corresponds 
with a transverse cleft, while the Trinkut channel is a longitudinal 
cleft. The precipitous shores of the former offer, therefore, the most 
instructive geological section. 

The narrow western entrance to the Nancowry channel is marked 
by two projecting rocks, which have been washed out by the force of the 
waves, making thus a natural gateway of rocks. Both cliffs rising 
almost perpendicularly to about 80 feet, are formed of a coarse breccia, 
composed of angular fragments of serpentine and gabbro* firmly 
cemented. I could not observe any stratification in this rock on the 
Carmorta side; it is here in cliffs with large quadrangular blocks. On 
the Nancowry side, however, coarser bands alternate with finer tufa¬ 
like ones, with a strike from S. S. E. to N. N. W\, and dipping 
about 85 degrees towards the west. On the Carmorta side,, there crop 
out at two places below heaps of masses of rocks, which Rink very 
properly regarded as friction-breccias, cliffs of a more or less ser¬ 
pentine or gabbro-like massive rock. 

Among the pebbles on the strand, I also met with numerous frag¬ 
ments of a reddish-brown rock traversed by white calcite veins, the 
rock which Rink called eurite. 

These phenomena, at the western entrance to Nancowry Harbour 
are thus perfectly identical with those which Rink has observed at the 
entrance of the Ulala Bay, situated only a few miles to the north ; they 
are represented (1. c. p. 68) by Rink in a section. Further to the 
north the mostly bare hills on the west coast of Carmorta, recalling by 
their external shape conical volcanic forms, attain a height of from 400 
to 500 feet; they no doubt indicate the further extension of the serpen¬ 
tine and gabbro rocks, which on Carmorta and Nancowry are traversed 
from S. S. E. to N. N. W. by a longitudinal cleft. 

In the interior of Nancowry harbour, wherever the rocks are 
exposed on the projecting angles, they appear to be well-bedded, 
whitish-yellow, clayey marls, alternating with banks of a fine-grained 
sandstone, with serpentine and gabbro tufas. 

I % 

Most instructive in this respect is the precipitous south-eastern cor¬ 
ner of Carmorta, at which the coast line bends into the Trinkut channel. 
The argillaceous marl formation is here well exposed in cliffs of from 
30 to 80 feet high. On the southern side of the corner the transverse 
section of the strata can be observed, dipping at 25° to 30° towards 
the west, while on the eastern side, parallel to the longitudinal break, 

* Gabbro is a rock composed of diallage, smaragdite, or hypersthene with labradorite 
or saussurites, and often some other minerals in an irregular mixture. 



( 215 ) 


the beds crop out horizontally one above the other. The argillaceous 
marl does not contain fossils, is of a yellowish white color, and on the 
perpendicular walls it was covered with inch-long, white, very thin, 
crystals of a silky lustre. The examination of these showed them to 
be sulphate of magnesia. The clay itself contains, according to Rink's 
analysis, besides silicate of alumina, iron-oxide and magnesia. 

The whitish-yellow clay marls of Carmorta and Nancowry being 
entirely free from lime have become famous since Professor Ehrenberg 
(Berl. Akad. Monatsberichte 1850, p. 476), by an examination of the 
samples brought by Dr. Rink, has shown that they are true Polycistina - 
marls, like those of the Barbadoes. Ehrenberg discovered in 1848 
about 300 species, which were by Professor Forbes believed to belong 
to miocene (tertiary) deposits. Ehrenberg says: “ Especially well 
developed is this material on Carmorta, where, near Frederick’s haven, a 
hill 300 feet high is covered all over with variegated Polycistina- clay, 
while the Mongkata hills on the eastern side of the island are, according to 
Rink, entirely composed of a whitish-clay resembling meerschaum; this 
is, according to my analysis, a nearly pure agglomerate of beautiful 
Polycistina and their fragments, beside numerous Spongiolites The 
species of Polycistina on the Nicobars are, according to Ehrenberg, the 
same which compose the similar marl on the Barbadoes, situated in 
nearly the same latitude; but there are also some new forms. 

Near the level of the sea the clay marls, which locally contain 
angular fragments of serpentine and gabbro, alternate with more solid 
strata of psephitic rock, which is composed of strongly-cemented 
angular fragments of serpentine and gabbro, and can therefore be best 
designated as gabbro-tufa. It is remarkable that this rock again 
includes larger and smaller pieces of the clay marl. On the eastern 
coast, near the village Inaka (Etiaca) a reddish micaceous sandstone 
appears between the clay marls. 

Similar are the geological conditions on the northern coast of 
Nancowry. Between the villages Inuang and Malacca, the whitish- 
yellow clay marls crop out in slightly inclined strata ; between Malacca 
and Injaong, however, lies a precipitous cliff, on which these strata rise 
almost perpendicular, and are gradually replaced by an accumulation 
of fragments of serpentine and gabbro. At the projecting corner itself, 
the traveller faces a precipitous cliff of about 60 feet in height, but 
being cracked and decomposed, the true nature of the rock is recognised 
with difficulty. On a fresh fracture, however, one soon observes a 
massive diallage rock, the laminar diallage being clearly traceable in the 
nearly solid mass of felspar. Narrow veins of quartz pass through 

the rock. 

From here up to the village Injaong the strand is again flatter, 
and nowhere nearer than on the other side of the village high, daik- 


* The result of examination of a Nancowry specimen is figured on plate XXX\ I of 
Elircnherg’s “ Mikrogeologie.” 




( 216 ) 


colored, rocks are a second time visible, indicating a massive rock. 
These are the two places which E/ink also has marked on his maps as 
plutonic rocks. 

Trice and Trade. —On the north-western point of the small Island 
of Trice, highly upheaved banks of a fine-grained argillaceous sandstone 
of a greenish-grey color form a low precipitous shore. The same stratified 
rock alternates with thin-bedded sandy slates, showing on the south-eastern 
coast margin of the small Island Track, only a few cables length 
distant, the accompanying section—pi. 2, fig. 4. Besides a fault, the 
strata form a saddle and strike from S. S. E. to N. N. W. In a 
sandstone bank I found here imbedded a rolled fragment of a bitu¬ 
minous coal, the same of which I met with a larger but equally rolled 
fragment on the strand of the Island of Trice. Of coal seams there 
was, however, no trace to be detected; what might be mistaken for 
them from a distance was only the shadow of softer sandstone banks, 
deeply weathered out, or the darker color of some strata. 

Pulo Milu. —A small island on the northern coast of Little Nicobar, 
which Dr. Rink has so excellently described in all its peculiarities, 
consists, in the higher parts, of a grey, fine-grained, micaceous and 
calcareous sandstone in massive banks. Very often spheroidal con¬ 
cretions are to be observed showing on the soft weathered surface like 
cannon balls. No trace of fossils could be found. The massive banks 
have thin-bedded sandy slates interstratified. The strata strike from 
S. S. E. to N. N. W., dipping to east at an angle of 45°' Dr. Rink 
(loc. cit., p. 50) mentions a fossil resin in the sandstone of Milu. 

Pulo Milu was particularly instructive for me, because the depen¬ 
dence of the vegetation on the soil and its geological basis could be 
perfectly well recognised. The vegetation and the geological forma¬ 
tion of the ground stand in the closest relation to each other, as 
clearly shown by the accompanying sketch plan. The sandstone hills 
are covered with jungle; the coral (calcareous) ground with high 
forest trees; the saline,.calcareous, sandy ground is occupied by cocoa- 
palms, and in the fresh water swamp on the declivity of the hill range, 
which resembles in its curve a horse shoe, thrives the finest forest of 
Pandanus which we have seen on the Nicobar Islands.—pi. 2, fig. 5; 
Plan of the Island of Pulo Milu. 1—Sandstone with bushy forest: 
2—Coral conglomerate, with high tree forest: 3—Coral and shell sand, 
with forest of cocoanut trees : 4—Coast reefs : 5—Fresh-water allu¬ 
vium, with forest of Pandanus. PI. 2, fig. 6, Section, of same island 
on line A B , Fig. 5. 

We have not visited the coast of Little Nicobar, the mountains 
of which rise to an elevation of 1,000 feet above the sea. 

Kondul,— between Little and Great Nicobar—consists of a hilly 
ridge, one and a half nautical miles long and half mile broad ; its strata 
strike N. N. W., and dip at 7 0° towards east. The western side is the 
precipitous one. The strata represent an alternation of more or less 




( 217 ) 


sandy or clayey beds. The sandstone predominates, it is yellowish- 
white, with ferruginous reddish-brown particles. The clayey beds partly 
consist ot a greasy plastic clay, partly of a crumbling yellowish clay 
mail, with intercalated tlnn-beddcd sandy slates. The only organic 
remains which I found were indistinct traces of alyce and small rolled 
fragments of coal. 

Great Nicobar .— What shall I report of Great Nicobar ? With the 
exception of some sandstone hills on the nothern coast, and the sand¬ 
stone ranges on the eastern side of the Galathea Bay in the south, I 
have not seen anything. Great Nicobar, with its mountains rising 
up to 2,000 feet, is geologically quite a terra incognita. 

A very remarkable earthquake, which is said to have lasted from 
the 31st of October to the 5th December 1847, on the Nicohar 
Islands, at which time also earthquakes occurred in the middle 
and western part of Java, is described from the Penang Gazette in 
Junghuhn 3 s Java (part II, p. 940). On this occasion fire is said to 
have been seen on one of the mountains of Great Nicobar. 

Can the highest mountain of Great Nicobar be a volcano ? Its 
form is that of a volcano, but as Junghuhn says that one could land 
on the southern coast of Java, wander about many days among sand¬ 
stone and slate rocks, without obtaining through any of the pheno¬ 
mena even a trace of the stupendous volcanic nature of Java ; in the 
same way there may be in the interior of Great Nicobar rock-forma¬ 
tions hidden, of which one does not get an idea along the coast. How¬ 
ever, I do not attach any importance to the rumour that fire has been 
seen on Great Nicobar, though the description of the earthquake 
seems trustworthy, as I had myself occasion to observe on Kondul 
the mountain-slips referred to in the account. 

These few observations, combined with those of Dr. Rink, give 
us the following, probably still very imperfect, idea of the geological 
nature of the Nicobar Islands. 

Among the various geological formations on the Nicobar Islands, 
three are the most important :—1 —An eruptive serpentine and gabbro 
formation : 2 —Marine deposits, probably of a later tertiary age , 
consisting of sandstone, slates , clay marls and plastic clay : 3 —Recent 
coral reef formations. 

The serpentine and gabbro formations of the Nicohars is character¬ 
istically of an eruptive nature. The tertiary sandstones, slates and 
clay-marls appear forcibly broken through; their strata are partly 
inclined, partly bent in flat, parallel, wave-like undulations. These 
rocks are accompanied by coarser and finer breccias composed of 
angular fragments of these same rocks, and they can partly be regarded 
as friction-breccias, partly as sedimentary tufas in which beds of an 
argillaceous marl are interstratified. The eruption of these plutonic 
masses appears, therefore, to belong to a time when the formation of the 

28 


( 220 ) 


Southern, and Eastern Borneo, finally the coal of Benkulen (Ben- 
coolen) on Sumatra, and numerous other similar deposits scattered 
over the Indian Archipelago. 2 .—An upper group without coal: a 
clay and sandstone formation with plastic clay-slates, argillaceous 
marls, calcareous sandstone, trachytic tufas, breccias and conglomerates, 
rich in marine shells, fossil plants, fossil resin, but merely with nests 
of coal in place of coal seams. 

Reasons, which I have given elsewhere,* have induced me to 
regard this complex group of strata as probably of Eocene age. This 
opinion may even now stand as regards the lower group, while as 
regards the upper group. I gladly accept the opinion of my friend Baron 
von Richthofen, and the conclusions derived by H. M. Jenkins,t from 
which these fossiliferous deposits appear to be younger Miocene. 

I suspect that to this upper Miocene group correspond the tertiary 
deposits of the Nicobars, although fossils confirming this sug¬ 
gestion have yet to be discovered. It is also beyond doubt that 
these deposits are not wanting on Sumatra, in certain respects a 
connecting link between Java and the Nicobars. Junghuhn (loc. cit., 
p. 8) justly remarks: “ The tertiary formation appears to have a sub¬ 
marine extent over the whole of the Indian Archipelago, because 
wherever within this Archipelago the earth's surface rises above the 
level of the sea, this Neptunian formation is observable. I know this 
for certain as regards Northern Sumatra, where the tertiaries are 
especially found in the Batta districts (Battalandern). With the 
exception of the trachytic island Dungus Nasi all the islands in the 
Bay of Tapanuli (situated exactly in the prolongation of the Nicobars), 
besides the adjoining low shores of Sumatra, and partially also the 
mountains near Tuka, are composed of more or less upheaved sand¬ 
stone strata, containing, though sometimes rarely, tertiary shells.” 
Thus it appears to be principally on the southern coast of Java and 
the south-west coast of Sumatra that we find a repetition of the 
geological conditions of the Nicobars. 

The commencement of the eruptive formation is in Java inaugu¬ 
rated by serpentine, gabbro, massive rocks resembling diorite (green¬ 
stone trachytes as in Hungary); more or less typical trachytic rocks 
follow, and the grand volcanic eruption extending up to the present 
time forms the termination of the enormous eruptive phenomena in 
the Indian Archipelago, At the same time it appears that the 
eruptive line has been shifted slowly on Java from S. to N., and 
on Sumatra from S. W. to N. E., so that this line would strike 
east as regards the Nicobar group in the same longitude in which 
east of the Andamans it re-appears on the volcanic Barren Island 
and Narcondam. 


* Reports on the doings of the Mining Engineers in Netherlands, India (Jahrbuch der 
k. k. gcol. Reiehsanstalt, Wien, 1858, p. 277). 

f Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., London, Feb., 1864.—F. Baron von Richthofen, Zeitschrift 
per dcutschen geoh Gesellschaft Bd. 14, p. 327. 







( 231 ) 


The later tertiary age of the serpentine and gabbro eruptions 
on the Nicobars and Java lias its perfect analogue in the eruptions of 
the same rocks in Central Italy, which, according to Signor Perezzi, 
in Turin, and Prof. Savi, are partly Eocene, partly Micocene, and 
which, on account of their copper ores, are of importance to the 
miner. 

The third class consists of coral formations, belonging to the 
most recent or the present period. Coral banks of great thick¬ 
ness are found on Car-Nicobar, Bompoka and several other islands ; 
they consist partly of a compact coral limestone, partly of a 
coral or shell conglomerate upheaved up to 30 and 40 feet above 
the present level of the sea; on all the islands, the original area 
is to be observed enlarged by coral-land, which is only separated 
by the higher sand dunes along the shore, from the still continuing 
formation of the coral-reefs surrounding all the islands in the character of 
fringing-reefs. Although these raised coral banks are a decided 
evidence in favor of the long-continued upheaval of the islands—that 
in connection with the eruption of the serpentines and gabbros—the 

formation of the flat coral land elevated onlv a few feet above the level 

•/ 

of the sea can, on the other hand, be explained by the accumulation 
of coral fragments, of sand and shells by the waves and breakers on 
the shallow surface of the fringing-reefs. A detailed description of 
the peculiarities of the Nicobar coral-reefs, and of the formation of 
the low coral land has been already given by Kink, (loc. eit. 
p. 88. &c.). 


II. — ON THE OCCURRENCE OE COAL AND OTHER USEEUL ROCKS AND MINE¬ 
RALS ON THE NICOBAR ISLANDS. 

The question regarding coal was the principal point of inquiry 
during the first expedition to the Nicobars, which was undertaken 
in 1845 by Mackey, the Danish Consul at Calcutta, the Englishman 
Lewis and the two Danes Busch and Lowert. 

The solution of this question was a second time the problem under¬ 
taken by Dr. Rink, as geologist with the Royal Danish Corvette Gala - 
tliea. The order of the day No. 5, which contained the instructions 
and directions for the survey and exploration of the Nicobar Islands on 
the part of the scientific expedition of His Majesty's Frigate Novara , 
made the reply to this question my duty also.* The facts on this point 
are as follow :— 

The results of the first expedition were confined to the dis¬ 
covery of single pieces of coal on the strand of the southern islands. 


# This instruction runs :—“ According to the report of the naturalists of the Danish 
expedition, coal and probably also precious metals occur. As far as this may be verified, 
samples in sufficient quantity ought to be collected; equally so in case of metals being found. 
In general it is however to be reported, as regards geological conditions, how far conclusions 
can°be drawn from the existing rocks as to the occurrence of useful minerals, Ac. Of the 
rivers and springs, the temperature should be ascertained, Ac., Ac. 






( 222 ) 


Dr. Rink found several places where coal occurred on Little Nicobar, 
Trice, Milu, and Kondul. “The coal, however, proved everywhere 
to be in isolated masses varying from one to two inches in thickness/’ 
The incorrect (as already stated) designation of “ brown coal forma¬ 
tion” for the sandstones and slates of the southern island might 
have been the cause of misunderstanding; but Rink himself (loc. cit., 
p. 53) expressed his results thus :—“ There appears to be nothing 
found on the Nicobar Islands which would correspond with the coal 
formations of South-Eastern Asia. The coal localities were met with 

here and there without anv order either in sandstone or in slate, and 

%> 

appear to me, therefore, to be derived from driftwood which was 
deposited with the clay and sand. I nowhere found anything which 
could indicate an accumulation of plants in basin-like depressions, 
in which the plant would be growing in situ, and through which the 
surrounding masses of clay would be impregnated with organic in¬ 
gredients and mixed with portions of plants. The question, therefore, 
still remains pending whether those brown coals occur in considerable 
quantity, as the quantity and size of the collected pebbles would seem 
to indicate.” 

I too succeeded no farther than in finding single fragments of 
brown coal. The first fragments were met with on the strand of the 
small Island Trice ; it was a brown coal with conchoidal fracture, but 
still with distinct structure of wood. The pieces were all rolled, and 
the largest—5-inclies long, 4-inches broad and 2-inches thick—was 
bored by Pholididee. I do not doubt that these pieces were derived 
from the beds of the sandstone or slate of Trice; but on the opposite 
Island (Track) I was fortunate enough to knock out of the sandstone, in 
situ, a small fragment of coal also rolled. Exactly in the same way I 
also found small fragmentsof brown coal on Kondul and on the south 
side of Great Nicobar, partly on the strand, partly in the sandstone 
or slate rock, and it is certaiu that these pieces occur all through the 
group of islands. The condition of all the brown coal fragments met 
with tends to show that they were only singly imbedded driftwood 
pieces, which were changed to coal, not that they belonged to large 
coal seams through the destruction of which they have come into 
more recent strata. Only on the strand of Pulo Milu have I obtained 
pebbles of true coal with laminated structure, such as is only to be 
found in seams. It is, however, much more probable that these 
pieces of coal came from the Steamer Ganges accompanying 
the Galathea in 1846, and stopping for some time about Pulo 
Milu, than that they were derived from coal seams on the Nico- 
bars. I therefore entirely agree with Rink’s opinion that, so far as 
it is possible to make observations, nothing speaks in favor of the 
existence of true coal basins on the Nicobars, and that the occur¬ 
rence of workable coal is not probable. However, the area of Great 
and Little Nicobar is large enough to hide under the thick primeval 
forest formations of which no trace may be observed along the coast. 
Until the interior of these islands has been examined, the question 




regarding coal on the Nicobars cannot be answered in any other way 
than it was by the first expedition. 

Equally unfavorable must be the opinion regarding the occurrence of 
ores or other useful minerals. Nothing of the kind has yet been found 
on the Nicobars. Gold and useful minerals are in some cases abundant 
on islands and along coasts which, viewed geologically, belong to the same 
area of elevation as the Nicobars, as I have already pointed out. The 
natives who long ago observed those fragments of coal, who use glass, 
pearls, silver fragments, &c., as ornaments, who know the plants and 
animals of their islands pretty well, and who have special names for all 
more common phenomena, for all useful products of the animal and vege¬ 
table kingdom, these inhabitants have as yet found among the rocks of 
their islands nothing that they would be able to make use of for orna¬ 
ment or other useful purposes. The only traces of ore which I found 
were those of iron pyrites and copper pyrites, finely disseminated through 
dioritic and serpentine-like rocks. The possibility of the occurrence of 
copper ores in the eruptive formation cannot be denied ; however, no 
discovery has as yet been made which would indicate it. On the other 
hand, the islands are rich in useful building materials. The sandstones 
of the southern island must give excellent working stones ; the plastic 
clay of the northern islands could no doubt be equally well worked 
into bricks or pottery ; the natives of Chowry make large pots of 
it. Finally, lime is offered by the coral-reefs in inexhaustible quantity 
along the coasts of all the islands. 

O 


III.—THE SOIL AND ITS VEGETATION. 


[ 0„ ly brief extracts of thissection are given. ] 


Dr. Hochstetter states that vegetation in its original state always 
indicates the character of the soil, provided the atmospheric conditions 
are the same. This is remarkably true in this case of the Nicobars. 
“Neither the difference in the latitude from the most northern to the 
most southern islands (2J degrees), nor the difference of the absolute 
elevation (the highest hills on Great Nicobar only attain about 2,000 
feet above the sea), is large enough to produce on the single islands, or 
parts of them, such a difference in the climatal conditions, that on it 
alone an altered character of vegetation should depend. Rocks, soil and 
vegetation are, therefore, on the Nicobars in such a degree related to 
each other, that the areas marked on a map as indicating various rocks 
would almost coincide with those indicating the varieties of vegetation. 
Unfortunately the sketching out of such maps for the larger inaccessible 
islands is impossible ; to indicate it I can only attempt a representation 
of the small Island Milu (PI. 2, Fig 5.) and the north-western bay of 

Little Nicobar.” 


( 224 ) 


‘‘The results of these observations 
tabular view :— 


may be seen in the following 


Geological character of the 
underlying rock. 

Character of soil. 

Respective charac¬ 
ter of vegetation. 

1.—Salt and brackish swamp, 
damp marine alluvium. 

Swampy ground not capable of 
cultivation. 

Mangrove-forest. 

2.—Coral conglomerate and coral 
sand, dry marine alluvium. 

Fertile calcareous soil; principal 
constituents, carbonate and 
phosphate of lime. 

Cocoa-palm forest. 

3. —Coral conglomerate and coral 
sand, beside dry fresh-water 
alluvium. 

Fertile calcareous sandy soil. 

Large forest trees. 

4.—Fresh-water swamp and damp 
freshwater alluvium. 

Swampy ground, capable of 
being cultivated. 

Pandanus forest. 

5.—Plastic clay, magnesian clay, 
marls, and partially serpentine. 

Not fertile, clayey soil, principal 
constituents, silicate of alu¬ 
mina and silicate of magnesia • 

Grassy plains. 

6.—Sandstone, slate, gabbro, dry 
river alluvium. 

Loose clayey sandy soil, rich in 
alkalies and lime, very fertile. 

Jungle (the true 
primeval forest). 


f£ The Mangrove forest .—Several deep channels, rich in fishes and 
navigable by the canoes of the natives, occasionally extend in serpentine 
turns through these mangrove-swamps. One not uncommonly meets at 
the end of such channels, in a hidden locality, the villages of the natives, 
as for instance, on Trinkut the pirates’ village Dschanoba,” (Janoba). 

“ The brackish-water alluvium, the ground of the Rhizophori and 
Cerithia, must, therefore, be considered as a soil perfectly unfit for 
cultivation. It occupies only a small area as compared with that of the 
islands, but it is nevertheless of a mischievous importance. For it 
can justly be said that the Nicobars owe their unhealthy climate 
principally to these brackish-water swamps, as they occasionally extend 
for miles from the months of the rivers into the interior. In these 
swampy districts, the change of the fresh to salt water causes a decay of 
the organisms, which can only exist in the former, the reverse takes 
place in salt water changing to fresh water. The ebb exposes large 
areas, and decomposition of organic life takes place, filling the air 
with most poisonous miasmas.” 

Dr. Hoehstetter says that he especially had opportunity of study^- 
ing these marked changes on a grand scale on the northern coast of 
Great Nicobar (west of the Ganges harbour). On the other hand, the 
























( 225 ) 


coral land appears to bo at once fertile, capable of cultivation, and 
healthy, and the dry marine and fresh-water alluvium, to which on 
the sea coast belongs the cocoa-palm forest, and further inland extend¬ 
ing to the base of the hills, a beautiful forest of various kinds of large 
trees. This is the ground which the natives of these islands have 
selected for their abode, finding here all the necessaries of life. 

The cocoa-paltn forest is described by Dr. Hochstetter as the picture 
of life, and lie thinks that if the cocoa-palms had not been there, the 
islands would have been probably uninhabited up to this time. He 
further states that, taking the number of the inhabitants of all the 
islands to be 5,000, there would be about five and a half millions 
of nuts required for annual use. The annual export of coeoanuts can 
further be estimated as about ten millions, for Car-Nicobar alone exports 
between two and three millions. This gives fifteen and sixteen millions 
of coeoanuts to meet the annual demand. On the northern islands, 
the cocoa-palms occupy comparatively a larger area, while on the south¬ 
ern islands, especially on Great Nicobar, they are nearly altogether 
wanting. The northern islands are, therefore, the most thickly 
inhabited, and the cocoa-palms are there divided as property, but on 
the southern islands they appear to be the free, common good of all. 

“ The Nicobariau not only lives on, but also in, the cocoa-palm 
forest, having selected for himself not only the most comfortable place 
for his hut, but being on the dry coral ground, exposed to the current 
of the wind, also the most healthy situation.” 

“ The high forest .—This is chiefly composed of large trees with 
rich foliage.” Several valuable timber trees, and others, useful on 
account of their fruits, are here mentioned. 

“The finest high forest I saw on the southern coast of Car- 
Nicobar.” 


u The Pandanus forest, in which this remarkable tree suppresses all 
other vegetation, except a few Areca and Rotang- palms, occurs only on 
the swampy fresh-water alluvium along the course of rivers and 
streams, especially near the sea where the rivers form more or less 
permanent basins. Here it is Pandanus melton, the largest kind of 
Pandanus, which forms the forests. I believe that what we saw of the 
Pandanus forest on Pulo Milu was one of the most peculiar pictures 
of tropical vegetation seen during the whole of our journey.” 

“The Pandanus is not cultivated on the Nicobars; it is most 
flourishing in a wild state, and is, after the cocoa-palm, the most 
important plant for the natives as regards food: it is the truly 
characteristic plant of the Nicobar Islands. 


“ Grassij plains. —If one has succeeded in marching from the flat 
coral-land through the high and Pandanus forests, he generally reaches 
the foot of hills, rising on the larger southern islands, Great and 
Little Nicobar, to a height of 1,000 to 2,000 feet above the sea, but on 
the northern islands they arc not above 500 to GOO feet. This hilly land 

29 


( Hi) ) 


certainly occupies T 3 T to J of the whole area. It is composed of rocks 
of the gabbro and serpentine formation, and of the clayey and sandy 
tertiary beds formerly noticed. The eruptive rocks are comparatively 
of small extent. Where felspathic gabbro forms the ground, this, being 
produced by the decomposition of the rocks, may be said to be fertile ; it 
is covered with thick forest, but even the serpentine Island Tillang- 
chong has a flourishing primeval forest. On the other hand, a remark¬ 
able difference is perceptible in the vegetation of the tertiary ground.” 

“ The hills of the northern islands are to a great extent only 
covered with grass ; those of the southern, however, chiefly with a 
thick forest vegetation. This distinction rests upon an essential differ¬ 
ence in the composition of the ground. The hills of the northern islands 
consist of a sterile argillaceous soil; those of the southern islands, on 
the contrary, of a fertile calcareous, sandy-argillaceous soil.” 

“Where the most favorable tropical climate could produce nothing 
else but stiff and dry lalang-grass ( Imperata), and rough Cyperacese 
( Scleria , Cyperus, Diplacrum), surely them nature has clearly enough 
left the stamp of sterility ; yet just between such grassy hills, which 
from a distance look so homely, resembling fields of corn, have the 
colonists on the Nancowry channel established their houses and gardens. 
The grass grows now high enough above their burial grounds ; the 
breakers play, with the bricks with which they built the houses, and 
enclosed their gardens and fields ; every path has disappeared. On Car- 
Nicobar I saw these glassy plains partially cut down, because the natives 
use the grass for thatching their houses ; and on Carmorta large strips 
were in flame.” 

The grass vegetation, says Rink {loc. cit ., p. 136), which to the 
greatest extent covers these islands is, in the valleys at the base of the 
hills, very thick and high ; it becomes, however, higher up, thinner and 
shorter. On the places which are sufficiently damp many soft grasses 
may occur rich in juice; but on the tops of hills, where the dry 
magnesian claystone locally penetrates through the scanty layers of soil, 
and is also partly covered with a coarse ferruginous sand, while the 
showers of rain carry all the finer particles which may be produced 
by decomposition into the valleys, there, as a rule, only dry and rough 
siliceous Graminece and Cyperacece are to be met with. 

The area which may, therefore, in future be successfully cultivated 
is that of the southern islands, composed of sandstone and slate, 
producing a fertile argillaceous sandy soil. On Little and Great 
Nicobar with the small Islands Pulo Milu and Kondul, the hilly land 
may be estimated at nearly two-thirds of the total area. These islands 
are therefore in point of colonization the most important, and a com¬ 
parison with Ceylon and Pulo Penang shows what could thrive where 
now impenetrable primeval forest covers the whole surface. 

Primeval forest— This is of great extent, and the coast inhabit¬ 
ants of Great Nicobar tell of the existence of a wild tribe, forest-men 
(“ jungle-men”) with long hair, inhabiting small huts or trees, and living 


! 


( Ml ) 


upon honey, roots, and game. But no European eye has yet sighted 
these forest-people. Dr. Hochstetter describes in vivid language the 
evermore forest-clad parts of Great Nicobar, which were visited bv some 
of the party along the deeply indented water courses and ravines" 


IV.— Springs, Streams, and Rivers. 

The annual rainfall of the Nicobars is unknown; but very likely 
it is considerable ; I think 100 inches is no exaggeration, because the 
two seasons, usualty distinguished—the dry one during the N. E. 
monsoons between November and March, and the wet one during 
the S. W. monsoons between April and October,—are not so strictly 
separated on these islands as on the neighbouring continent, and, 
according to present experience, showers are not rare even during the dry 
season. The driest month of the year may be March. We had during 
our stay on and round the islands in this month only three rather 
heavy showers of rain. In April they become more frequent, until 
in May and June the S. W. monsoon rolled constant and heavy 
clouds over the islands. 

If, therefore, peculiar geological conditions do not facilitate a 
rapid flowing off of the rain, the islands cannot in general want for 
water. And of this w 7 e could convince ourselves, inasmuch as the 
end of the dry season was unfavorable for the quantity of water 
in streams and rivers. Even the smallest islands like Pulo Milu and 
Kondul, though their small streams hardly had any water flowing, still 
had an abundance of fresh water in the numerous basin-like depressions 
of their beds. From the forest-clad heights of Tillangchong spring 
water still rippled out everywhere. The numerous streams and 
rivers of the southern large and woody islands, Little and Great 
Nicobar, possess abundance of water all the year round. But the 
northern island, as far as the argillaceous beds extend, appears to be 
deficient in water; this is specially the case on Nancowry, Carmorta, 
Trinkut, and probably also on Terressa and Bompoka. I found the 
small streams on Nancowry and Carmorta, leading into Nancowry 
harbour, perfectly dried up. The natives only drank cocoanut-water 
and they probably obtain the fresh water which they require for 
domestic purposes, &c., like the boiling of mellori, from the fresh¬ 
water swamps, which are locally to be met with in ravines. Of wells, 
except that made near the village Malacca on Nancowry, and which 
is now half in ruin, I saw nothing. Car-Nicobar, however, though also 
composed of argillaceous strata as the above-mentioned islands, has no 
want of good drinking water, because the large coral land raised 
from 8 to 12 feet above the level of the sea permits the digging of 
those remarkable wells, the fresh water of which falls and rises with 
the ebb and tide. The explanation of this rare phenomenon does not 
rest in the filtering of the sea water by the coral sand, but is rather the 
fact that the lighter rain water floats on the heavier sea water, and the 
porous coral rock only prevents the mixing of the two. I have seen 
several such reservoirs on Car-Nicobar near the villages Mous and Saui, 
they wore all dug from 8 to 10 feet through the coral mass nearly 



( ‘228 ) 

to the level of the sea at its highest Hood, and contained good drink¬ 
ing water. Besides this, a river flows into the northern bay of 
Car-Nicobar, which we named Areca river from the luxuriant Areca- 
palms on its bauks; this river is navigable with flat boats two miles 
upwards, and near the small rapids which one meets it also offers 
good drinking water, containing only a small portion of calcareous 
constituents in solution. 

I have not become acquainted with any mineral or warm springs. 
The clay-marl rocks of Nancowry harbour are, however, seen covered 
with an inch-thick incrustation of sulphate of magnesia (epsom salts) 
in fine fibres with a silky lustre; this indicates a quantity of sulphate 
of magnesia in the clay-marls, and by digging holes in them, epsom 
salt waters may probably be obtained, as is the case with the bitter 
sandy-marls near Billiu in Bohemia. 


V.— Observations on the Temperature. 

As we had, according to our instructions, to measure the temperas 
ture of rivers and springs, and as this task fell to my lot, as far as 
opportunity offered, I would put upon record here the few observations 
in this respect, besides a few remarks on the temperature. 


A.— Temperature of the different waters. 

1. —23rd February, on Car-Nicobar, water in the well near the 

village Saui at 8 feet depth in perfect shade ... ... 25-7(7. 

2. —27th February, on Car-Nicobar, Areca river, in the shade of the 

primeval forest ... ... ... ... 25-0(7. 

3. —4th March, on Tillangchong, western side, a spring in the shade 

of primeval forest ... ... ... 25*5(7. 

4. —4th March, on Tillangchong, another spring ... ... 26*0(7. 

5. —8th March, on Nancowry, old well of the Moravian Brothers, 

near the village Malacca, water at 8 feet depth in shade ... 2. r r7(7. 

If it were permitted to draw a conclusion from these few observa¬ 
tions upon the mean of the annual temperature of the Nicobars, this 
mean would be 25 58 C. (== 78’0t Fahr.) 

I have also measured the temperature of several other wells and 
streams, but as their water was temporarily exposed to the sun, very 
different results were obtained, as for instance — 

On Car-Nicobar 

24th February, well near Mous, water at 3 feet depth ... 

25th ditto a stream between Mous and Saui 
2Gth ditto river near Saui ... 

On Carmorta 

9tli March, two streams with muddy stagnant water ... 

On Pulo Milu 

18th March, stagnant stream water 

' ^ * • ' % » • 


27-0 <7. 
27 "8 C. 
29-0(7. 


27 0(7. 


26-5(7. 




fljiU, 1 


























































































1. Eastern sTiore of tEe Bay of Sau.i 



Pxinted at th.e Geol: Surv; Office Calcutta 1870. 









































































-* 




































■ • - 













. 






































































( 2-29 ) 


B.—Temperature of the Soil. 

To obtain further materials for the determination of the mean 
annual temperature I made a few observations on the temperature of 
the soil, and these gave the following results: — 

8tli March, on Nancowry, near the village Inuang, the thermometer, 
after it had been exposed in a permanently shaded place for 6 hours, 
showed, when buried at 3^ feet depth underground ... ... 25'7, C. 

20th March, on Kondul, also in 3| feet after 6 hours ... ... 25’3 ,C. 

These two observations give, as did those made in water, an 
annual mean of ... ... 25*5(7. (=77'9 Fahr.) 

This result is smaller than the records known up to the present, 
but these also do not rest upon sufficiently decisive observations. Rink 
who, during a stay on the islands between January and May 1846, 
never saw the thermometer under 25°(7. and never above 33°(7. in 
perfect shade, believes 28 °C. to be the most probable mean. 

According to Johnston’s Physical Atlas , the line indicating the 
temperature of the sea surface of 30*5(7. passes just across the group 
of islands, the annual isothermal being 26TC., with the January 
isothermal of 25 0(7, and the July isothermal of 27*2(7. 

As regards the monthly means, we obtain from the observations of 
the Danish Corvette Galaihea every four hours— 


For January 1846 ... ... ... 28*2(7. 

„ February ,, ... ... ... 286(7. 


According to the hourly observations on board of the Frigate 
Novara the mean is— 


For the days 23rd—28th February 1858 
Ditto 1st—26th March 


27‘2(7.| 

27*5(7.) 


mean 27*25(7. 


With this agrees pretty fairly the soil temperature which I 
measured at a depth of one foot— 

On the 26th February near Saui ... 27*7(7. 4 

Do. 20th March on Kondul ... 27 0(7. V mean 27'2Gc. 

Do. 26th do. on Great Nicobar ... 27*0(7. j 


Finally, with regard to the daily means, they will he found, for the 
time of our stav on the Nicobars, in the observations recorded on board 
the vessel. It occurred to me when on Car-Nicobar to see whether 
the temperature of the water of young cocoanuts, when freshly cut 
down from a tree, standing in shade, would not indicate approximately 
the mean daily temperature. I found, on the 26th February, in two 
nuts a temperature of 27*2(7. and 27*4(7. as a mean of 27*3(7. The 
journal kept on board of the frigate gives for the same day, as mean, 

also 27*3(7. 


( aso ) 


From the Medical Report of the “ Voyage of the Novara.”— 

By Dr. Schwarz. Vol. I., Section VIII. 

The Nicobar Fevers. 

A special interest attaches to the visit of our expedition to the 
Nieobars. Our country at one time sacrificed a great deal, in order to 
take permanent possession of this group of islands, which are so valuable 
for the fertility of their soil, and so important for their geographical 
position. Other nations imitated our example, and had to suffer as we 
did ; but in each case it was the unsatisfactory condition of the new settle¬ 
ments from a sanitary point of view which led to failures, and induced 
colonists almost joyfully to renounce their claims on these islands, 
no matter how dearly they had paid for the attempt to colonize them. 

The hygienic state therefore of these islands, and the nature of 
the Nicobar fevers, deserve particular attention. 


The following table shows the number of days we stayed in the 
several islands :— 


February 1858. 

\J 

21st, 6 o’clock p. m. —We sight land, E. S E. 

22nd, 3 o’clock p. m.—C ar-Nicobar before us. 

23rd, 8i o’clock a. m.—W e anchor off Saoni (9° 14' 8" N. Lat., 92° 44' 46" E. 

Long.*) 

27th, 4£ o’clock p. m. —We sail away. 

28th, 2| o’clock p. m. —We anchor in the South Bay of Car-Nicobar off Room 

(9° 7' 32" N. Lat., 92° 43' 42" E. Long.*) 

March 1858. 

1st, 4i o’clock P. m.—W e sail away. 

4th, 9 o’clock a. M.-We anchor off Tillangchoug (8° 32' 30" N. Lat., 93° 34' 10" 

E. Long.*) 

„ 5| o’clock P. M.—We sail away. 

6th, 9 o’clock p. m. —In Nancowry Harbour (8° 2' 10", N. Lat., 93° 29' 40 

E. Long.*) 

12th, Hi o’clock A. M.—We leave. 

17th, 11 o’clock a. m.—O ff Trice (7° 28' N. Lat., 93° 37' E. Long.) 

„ 4| o’clock p. m.—W e leave. 

„ 10i o’clock p. m.—O ff Pilu Milu (7° 32' N. Lat., 93° 40' E. Long.) 

18th, 6? o’clock p. M.—We leave. 

19th, 6 o’clock p. M.—In George’s Channel, off Kondul (7° 12' 17" N. Lat., 93° 39 ' 

57" E. Long.*), in the North Bay of Great Nicobar. 

23rd, 10i o’clock A. M.—We leave. 

24th, 9i o’clock p. m.—I n the Galathea Bay (6° 48' 26" N. Lat., 93° 49’ 51" E Loin* *1 

South Bay of Great Nicobar. ’ ’ 

26tli, 5f o’clock p. m.—W e leave the Nieobars. 




* Bearings taken by the Expedition. 






( 231 ) 


We have to premise that our expedition reached these islands 
during the most healthy months of the year (February, March) ; and 
our excursions into the interior were not interrupted by any unusual 
fall of rain. 

As mentioned elsewhere, the Nicobars being intertropieal islands 
ought to have two rainy seasons about the solstices. This is, however, 
not the case, and the seasons, as everywhere else, depend on local 
circumstances. First of all, the climate of the islands is an insular 
one; secondly, the sun, in his career from the equator towards N., up 
to the time of the solstice, reaches a maximum angular distance 
of only 15 degrees, the average latitude of the islands being 8° N.; and 
this is the reason why there can be no lasting rainy season at the time 
of our summer solstice. The rains only commence after the stay of the 
sun in Capricorn, when the maximum distance amounts to more than 
double the above. 

Notwithstanding this, the rains in the Nicobars do not commence 
towards the end of December, just as at home the cold does not reach 
its maximum on the 21st December, nor the heat its greatest intensity 
on the 21st June; but the extremes of temperature rather fall in the 
middle between the solstices and the equinoxes. The cause, as is well 
known, lies in the annual equalisation of temperature; for when the 
sun is in Capricorn, the warmth which our planet has received during 
the preceding summer has not so far eradiated as not to affect the daily 
temperature at the time of the solstices. 

Besides, the Nicobar Islands are adjacent to the largest portion of 
land of our globe—the Continent of Asia, which requires a longer time 
for eradiation than any other portion of our planet. Hence, at the real 
height of our winter, the sun is not only half-way distant from the 
equator in his course from Capricorn, but has even often reached 
the equator, when the winter of the Nicobars begins. The air about 
this time is excessively damp; and during the period of the minimum 
of temperature, clouds invariably form, which, on cooling, suddenly 
result in watery deposits, as noted in the table attached to this report. 

But the sun in his progress gradually equalises differences arising 
from the nature of these localities, and causes the monsoons which are 
closely connected with the seasons. 

The S. W. monsoon which, in the Bay of Bengal, prevails during 
the latter half of May, June, July, and the first half of August, but 
sometimes lasts through September, produces a low temperature, 
and sends immense masses of clouds over the islands and the coast 
regions. 

The N. E. monsoon appears in November, when the sun ap¬ 
proaches the southern tropic, and lasts for three months, viz., the latter 
half of November, December, January, and the first half of February. 
This monsoon constitutes the dry season. During April and May this 
N. E. monsoon gets changeable, and gradually decreases, when a sort 


( 232 ) 


of interregnum between the two monsoons commences,, during which 
time the wind is unsteady though mostly south-westerly. But in the 
second half of May, the wind turns to the S. W., when the rainy season, 
properly so called, commences. 

During the two months of the interregnum, showers are numerous, 
though of short duration. The weather, however, is for the most part 
pleasant. 

After the period of the S. W. monsoon to the beginning, of the 
dry season in the second half of November, there is again an interregnum, 
during which there may occur showers such as those above alluded to. 
For this period, however, we have no meteorological observations; but 
even should the showers be as numerous as those during* the inter- 
regnum before the S. W. monsoon, the weather could scarcely be called 
bad. Be this as it may, people erroneously believe that the rainy season 
ot tbe Nicobars extends annually over nine months. But if a meteoro¬ 
logical observer calls the weather immediately before and after the 
rains “ fine,” it does not follow that it should be so from a sanitary point 
of view. Let us take a glance at the meteorological table of the 
temperature observed on board. 

The table does not show such high degrees of temperature as 
observed on land. We may state that our observers on the sandy coast 
of the Island of Kondul read at noon 40°, and in the southern harbour 
of Great Nicobar, 43° Reaumur . Though the intense heat during sum¬ 
mer dries up every source of miasma, it is of importance to leave such 
places a considerable time before the actual commencement of the rains, 
because the air at this time is, as we saw, very damp. 


During the thirty-two days of our stay in the Nicobars, we observed 
no real case of fever; and in connection with this remarkable fact, we 
shall give a short sketch of the hygienic status of the crew of the 
Danish Frigate Galathea. Her crew, like ours, had not a single case 
of fever during the forty days they were on the island; but the sailors 
and officers bad to work on shore, and their stay in Nancowry Harbour, 
upon which we look as a place most dangerous to health, was rather 
prolonged. The naturalists of the party, on the 20th February 1846, 
made an expedition up the Galathea river, which flows into 
Galathea Bay, where, thirty-six days before, the Ganges with the 
members of the expedition had anchored. The party had to pass a 
night in the forest, and was surprized by a tropical thunderstorm, 
against which their tents afforded no protection whatever. On the 
25 Hi February, after a stay of forty-one days, the Galathea left for Pulo 
Penang, whilst the Ganges remained in the Nicobars. But after they 
had been eight days at sea, fever made its appearance among the crew of 
the Galathea , and cases even happened when the Corvette, on the after¬ 
noon of the 7th March, reached Pulo Penang. Every one of those who 
had passed the night in the forest took ill, and in the course of a week 
four of them died of fever. 


( m ) 


We should not perhaps attach too much importance to the fact that 
the Novara during* her stay in the Nicobars had no case of fever. 


From these facts, we feel inclined to infer that the Nicobar fevers 
are neither so rapid nor so decisive as the fevers prevailing* in other 
malarious districts, the unhealthiness of which is not more notorious 
than that of the Nicobars. 

We shall now give a short account of our expeditions into the 
interior as far as they are connected with hygienic observations. 

W r e do not profess to be minutely exact in geographical details; but 
we hope our remarks will be of some practical use to such as may in 
future visit these islands. 

We had anchored before Car-Nicobar off Saoni, and selected, as point 
to start from, the bay situate in the middle of the steep M. W. coast, 
from which a .straight road leads through the Pandamis wood towards 
the north-eastern portion of the island and the village of Mous. South 
of our starting point, after a walk of about three-quarters of an hour, you 
come to the mouth of Areca river, so called from a very dense Areca 
forest in the neighbourhood. Going eastwards from the mouth of the river, 
you reach the village of Saui, the road leading almost along the coast 
through the Pandanus forest (fresh-water marsh and fresh-water 
alluvium), in which you may also see Arecas , a few cocoa-palms, and 
here and there bamboo. Following the southern road towards Areca 
river, you will see a great number of trees ( Casuarina , Cilophyllum, 
Artocarpus , Freycinetia , Terminalia , Ficus, Thcspesia, Sophora, several 
kinds of myrtles, &c.) which, near the coast, stand close to cocoa- 

palms and stretch further into the island, forming a mixed, but not very 

dense, forest. Going along the path through the forest (which at. no 
place is very far from the coast) you will reach a salt-water marsh,* in 
which mangroves grow— Rhizophora mucronata and Bruguiera rhedii, 
the only species found in the Nicobars. If you follow the upper forest 
path, you will reach extensive meadows. 

The tract of land near the village of Komios, in the Arrow or 
southern bay of Car-Nicobar, almost entirely forms part of the salt¬ 
water marsh. Where this marsh extends into the interior, a dense 

forest of different kinds of trees commences, which shut out the 

light, and prevent every access of air. Here the foot of the wanderer 
sinks into decomposing plants, progress is rendered difficult, whilst 
it is scarcely possible to breath the offensive, hot, and damp air. From 


Note.—T he following- sentence is taken from Steen Bille’s Report:—“ Doctors stationed 
in the Straits prescribe quinine immediately, and in large doses; hut they look upo-i blood¬ 
letting as very dangerous, as it causes great prostration,” which is in accordance with our 
experience. 

* This marsh must have been more extensive at the time the Galath°a was in tho 
Nicobars, to judge by the maps ot that Corvette. 

3o 





( *31 ) 


this locality we made indeed a few attempts to go into the interior, 
but we must fix upon this spot as a fever centre, and as the most 
dangerous to health on the pretty Island of Car-Nicobar. 

We have but little to say about Tillangchong. From the place 
where our ship lay at anchor (N. W.), we walked a few hundred 
paces through clusters of cocoa-palms, Pandanus, Barringtonias , as 
usually found on flat coast districts, and afterwards along the steep bank 
of a river through a thick forest up to the ridge of the hill, and from 
thence back to the coast. 

But matters are very different in Nancowry Harbour, a locality against 
which visitors have so justly been put on their guard. On the south 
coast of the Island of Carmorta and on the north side of the Island of 
Nancowry, the sea in many places enters into the land, and thus a 
harbour is formed, the medial section of which extends from S.W. 
to N.E. The entrances are protected at some distance S.W. by 
Katchall, and N.E., at a nearer distance by Trinkuttee. The 
inner harbour is surrounded bv hills not very high, but they are covered 
with dense forest, which, although not able to keep out the monsoons 
when blowing in full force, will yet successfully shut out the breezes which 
blow during the decrease of the monsoons, at the time of the variable 
winds. The consequence is, that the heat within the harbour is very 
oppressive, whilst the air, as a rule, is damp and vitiated. The air 
moreover, is rendered more unhealthy by the neighbourhood of the Ulala 
Bay. This bay belongs to the Island of Carmorta, and lies about 
six (German) miles to the nDrth of the west entrance of Nancowry 
Harbour, running parallel with the latter, and being separated from it 
by a narrow ridge of hills not very high. But the coast of this closed- 
up Ulala Bay is covered for miles into the interior with dense mangrove 
marshes. 

In'our excursions we generally started from the villages of Inuano* 
Itoe, Malacca (all of which are in Nancowry), the Monkata hills, and 
oaf observatories in Carmorta; and among the roads taken by us we 
may draw attention to a path which goes from Inuang alon^ the coast. 
This road does not reward the visitor for the fatigues which he has 
to endure in marching through the morasses. We also visited the several 
villages and nearest bays in the harbour, in native canoes, and we also 
made longer and shorter excursions to the south coast of Carmorta and 
beyond it, without, however, entering deeper into the country. 

But with exception of the tract round about the village of Komios 
there is scarcely a single locality which we could connect with the 
fever cases we had on board. The naturalists of our expedition were 
only accompanied by such sailors as had been told off for this duty • 
all other sailors remained at the place of observation near the coast" 
whilst the crew came but momentarily and occasionally on shore On 
the Island of Car-Nicobar, lastly, the Commander of our expedition 
made a boat trip up that river, to which he gave the name of Areca 
river, and which is entirely overgrown with jungle. We have before us 


% 


( 2.35 ) 

returns of tlie names of the boatmen who went up the river, as also 
a list of the names of such sailors as worked on land, and we shall 
compare their names with our sick lists. 

Though there is not sufficient reason to refer the inhalation of 
miasma up to our entrance "into Nancowry Harbour to any locality in 
particular, we could urge nothing against the opinion that the first 
process of poisoning took place in Nancowry. We have here to 
mention a few untoward events. On the 6th March, at 5 o'clock p. m., 
we doubled the southern point of Trinkuttee. and directing our course 
towards the eastern entrance of Nancowry Harbour, passed Malacca Point. 
There was a strong current from the west. About 5| o'clock, the lead 
indicated a depth of 24 fathoms, and it was now that we had to struggle 
with difficulties, which engaged the whole crew for more than three 
hours. At 9J we anchored, the depth being 19 fathoms, when the 
sailors, with the exception of the watch, were sent below deck. The 
watch had several other duties to perform. It was 1 o'clock a. m., and 
the moon shone bright. There was a heavy dew-fall. An hour after the 
watch had been relieved (4 o'clock), the men were ordered on dec*k, vhe 
usual morning work was done, and the great anchor had to be weighed as 
we wished to enter the harbour. At 10 Is o'clock, we anchored near I toe, 
after towing her up the canal by our boats. Thus it will be seen that 
the work of the crew, from the preceding night till noon the next day, 
was very heavy. 

On the same day a similar event, though not so disagreeable, took 
place. Several gentlemen had gone ashore in the officers' boat; one 
of the officers went too far into the forest, and lost his way. The 
boat in the mean time had to wait. We went in all directions looking 
for the absentee, when suddenly a shot was heard in the forest. We re¬ 
plied, and were soon again all together. But the ebb had left our heavy 
boat sticking in marshy water between the corals, and we had all to work 
to get the boat away. Sailors and officers worked hard; all perspired most 
freely, standing at the same time up to the knees in water. When we 
arrived on board, we did not forget to do justice to the gin bottle. 

In Nancowry Harbour the crew had again to do much heavy extra 
work. The ship was placed on her side, repairs were made, and some¬ 
thing had to be altered in the tube of the distilling apparatus. It is 
unnecessary to refer to the fatigues which the officers on shore had to 
endure in performing these tasks in the shortest possible time. 

During the moonlight nights we had invariably heavy falls of dew, 
and the temperature was chilly for such as worked on deck, but excessively 
close for all below. 

We cannot say much of Trice and Track, nor of Pulo Milo A few 
places on the last island are very damp and marshy, and the ferns 
were very conspicuous. Whilst we were occupied on land, the Captain 
explored two canals of brackish water in the mangrove marshes North 
of Little Nicobar, in order to see whether he would meet with fresh 
water; but regard for the health of the crew obliged him to return, as 
the air was damp and the heat unusually oppressive. 




( 236 ) 


The small Island of Kondul also, situated between Great and Little 
Nicobar, offers tbe physician nothing 1 worth recording. But we have 
to mention an event which immediately afterwards led to a case ol 
sickness. 

Several gentlemen wished to walk round the Island of Kondul. 
This would have been an easy task, if the coast had been everywhere flat 
and sandy; but the wanderers met about half-way several steep declivities, 
and unwilling to return, they resolved to go on wading through several 
shallow places till they came to similar declivities. But here the surt 
forced them to climb up the edge of the precipice and down again. At 
a few other places also the road was likewise obstructed, and it was after 
sun-set when they at last reached the place of embarkation, perfectly ex¬ 
hausted, thirsty, hot, and wet through. In this state they had to wade 
towards the boat, and had then to sit quietly till they came on board the 
ship. Such fatigues, in any part of the world, would result in sickness. 

The north bay of Great Nicobar appeared to us fast decreasing. 
The sea has evidently been receding, for far into the country we met with 
decayed mangroves. The south, coast, up to the place where the hill 
commences, is entirely composed of salt-water marshes. It appeared to 
us as if another vegetation would soon occupy the ground, which is now 
laid bare. To the right and left we had continually to wade through 
brackish water; only towards the extreme ends is the bay sandy. 

When lying in Kondul Harbour we had heavy showers; we had 
also to cut down trees and to ship wood for fuel. 

On the 23rd March, at 2 o'clock p. m., whilst sailing along the 
coast of Great Nicobar, two smaller boats were despatched under the 
command of an officer for the purpose of making geographical observa¬ 
tions. Towards 6 o’clock p. m. the larger of the two boats came back, 
and reported that the smaller boat had upset in the heavy surf. Another 
boat was sent to her assistance. The men of the unfortunate boat, after 
it upset, had done their best to save the instruments and the things 
belonging to the boat, and one can fancy in what state they reached the 
shore. Far and wide not a trace was to be seen of a settlement, and 
the men had to wait for several hours till assistance came, and even then 
they had to swum back to the boat, which had anchored far in the 
sea. About 2 o’clock a.m. they reached the frigate. This event also 
explains several cases of sickness. 

The south bay of Great Nicobar resembles the northern one. 
A dense jungle surrounds the coasts of the so-called Galathea Harbour, 
and the interior abounds in tracts covered with brackish water. We did 
not go up the river. 

We left the Nicobars on the 26th March. Though we had lived 
on board, we had to suffer a great deal from heat. We had frequent 
calms, and the occasional N.N.E. breezes did not help us away. 
Far the first three days we lay as if spell-bound within the circle of the 
dongerous islands. Two days after our departure, we had a heavy fall 
of rain, and as our distilling apparatus, notwithstanding the late repairs, 


( 237 ) 


was not in working order, it was resolved to collect the rain water 
In a short time we filled ten barrels, and later, on the 30tli March, eight 
more. The crew, not satisfied with the daily quantum of water, drank a 
deal of water of the former rain-fall. 

On the 10th April, or fifteen days after our departure from Galathea 
Bay, we were in 6® 25' N. Lat., and 99° 4/ E. Long., and next day we 
sighted Pulo Penang, which is about 300 f sea miles* from the point 
where the Straits begin. The fatigues which the crew had to undergo 
in consequence of variable winds and calms, the frequent showers and 
the oppressive heat, had now come to an end, and five days later we 
anchored off Singapore. We now proceed to record chronologically our 
fever cases. 

Table showing the dags when Fever Cases were reported. 


Month. 


M arch 


April 



No. OF 

Cases. 

Days. 

Slight. 

Severe. 

3 

1 


] L 

1 


13 

1 


17 

1 


23 

1 


28 

1 


1 

2 

1 

i 

3 

1 

i 

4 

1 

i 

6 

2 

i 

H 

/ 

2 

i 

0 

3 

i 

10 

2 

. . , 

11 

1 

... 

14 

_ 

1 

• * • 


A few details may be acceptable. 


March . 


The entries refer to the men. They were common fever cases, each 
of which yielded after the second and milder attack. But it is notice¬ 
able that since August 1857 we had not had a single case of fever 
on board. The first case happened in February, when the Nicobars were 

in sight. 


The entries of the 11th and 13th refer to a midshipman who took 
part in the astronomical observations, and was without interruption 
exposed to the sun; and to a servant whose case resembles that of the 
midshipman, the cause being the same. In both cases the cold stage 
was wanting ; it was more an erethic state, with violent headache, not 
accompanied by the prostration observed in undeveloped cases of Nicobar 










































( 238 ) 


fevers. No sooner had the doctor put a stop to the astronomical 
observations, than convalescence set in. The headache appeared again 
on the third day, after which both were all right again. 

The entry of the 17th refers to myselfbut the fever was so slight 
as not to interrupt the various but fatiguing duties which 1 had to 
perform at Pulo Milu, Kondul, and in the north and south bays of 
Great Nicobar. There was occasional headache, and a drawing pain in 
the limbs, the pulse remaining almost unchanged. There was no actual 
paroxysm. .But the continuance of my labors, and the neglect which 
I showed to my health, caused, after our departure from the Nicobais, 
an actual though weak attack of fever with a little coid, followed by 
occasional headache and great prostration, which only left me after our 
departure from Singapore. 

April. 

The entry of the 2nd was a clear case attended by all characteristics 
of malaria fever. This case was followed by daily and severe cases up 
to the 14th, the day of our departure from the island, and several 
milder cases which were generally got over after the second or third 
attack. No case extended over 16 days, inclusive of the time of con¬ 
valescence. On the 14th, we discharged several that had taken ill in the 
same month. The entries after the 10th were very mild and unimport¬ 
ant cases, and lasted from 6 to 9 days. The paroxysms were regular 
and complete, but the cold stage was short, though indicating little 
danger. We applied, however, the same strong remedies to slight as to 
severe cases. 

Nicobar fevers are attended by the following symptoms :—The patient 
feels disinclined for work. Pains in the hips, or a drawing in the limbs 
ensue, accompanied by weakness. This is generally followed by violent 
vomiting, which so exhausts the patient that he faints. After a short time 
headache sets in, the patient is apt to cry, passes into indifference to 
everything about him, and gets either delirious or perfectly apathetic. 
In this extreme state the Nicobar fevers resemble typhus. The cold 
stage then commences, but the patient is rarely thrown about or shaken 
bv the cold. The cold increases with the apathy, and the patient lies 
down quite prostrated. These several symptoms show themselves in 
the space of a few hours. Cases occurred in which patients could not 
get warm for twenty hours : the extremities felt cold like ice. The 
pulse was so weak, that no counting was possible. We looked upon the 
decrease of any of the more violent symptoms, headache, delirium, 
upon a slight commencement of warmth, or the appearance of a little 
perspiration or thirst, as the beginningof an improved status, and applied 
remedies forthwith. Friction, or artificial warming, produced no effect; 
but the action of quinine was very marked. Two or three doses of 10 
grains dissolved in sulphuric or tartaric acid were given in sherry; 
and the same dose mucilagated and applied as enema (when vomiting ren¬ 
dered the usual mode impracticable) removed all symptoms causing anxiety. 
In rare cases only had we to go beyond this number .of doses, ana but 
few patients required more than 60 grains of sulphate of quinine to 


( 239 ) 


complete the cure. The severer cases were attended by great prostration, 
which continued for several days. There were no sequela?, such as bowel 
complaints. In some cases the spleen did indeed enlarge very much, but 
it decreased as rapidly; in fact we may say that we felt the spleen 
swelling and subsiding. All tumours were transient. 

It is noticeable that the men who were generally employed on shore 
and were thus most exposed to local influences of climate and weather, 
furnished a small proportion of fever cases, and even these of the 
mildest. Besides the above-mentioned two cases of patients belonging 
to the staff, there were three others in which headache and prostration 
were the most marked symptoms. The severest case showed two, all 
others only one real attack, with no very marked acceleration of the 
pulse. Of the sailors and servants attached to gentlemen working on shore, 
four got fever; of such as had worked as boatmen during the excur¬ 
sions, two. We have also ascertained that not one of the sailors took 
ill who accompanied the Captain up the Areca river, nor of those who 
were in the two boats of which one upset in the surf off Great Nicobar. 
In any case two-thirds of our fever patients belonged to such as never 
left the ship. Two had been in hospital with catarrh before we sighted 
the Nicobars, and had fever-attacks whilst convalescent. 

The preceding details will enable the reader to judge as to the 
malignity of Nicobar fevers. It appears strange to us that islands so 
rarely visited as the Nicobars are, should be looked upon as notoriously 
unhealthy. It is no doubt to newspaper reports, furnished by not over- 
competent hands, to which we have to trace this curious idea. Though 
we avoid quoting authorities in favor of opinions advanced by us, we 
may be allowed to cite here two statements, the only ones of scientific 

value known to us, inasmuch as they confirm, to a certain extent, our 

opinion as to the exaggerated description of the unhealthiness of these 
islands. 

The older of the two records is the following passage by Surgeon 
Nicholas Fontana, of the Imperial Frigate Joseph und Theresia , which, 
for five months during the rains (1st April to 4th September 1778), 
remained among the Nicobars : — 

et I must observe that all Europeans in India have a bad opinion 
regarding the salubrity of the Nicobars. The sad experience of the 
Danes, who, in 1756, had erected a factory here, was the chief cause 

of this unfavorable opinion. But I am not sure whether experience 

and closer examination will not allay the fears of people. 

“ The Europeans who first settled here did not pay proper attention 
and care to the choice of a spot suitable for a settlement. You may 
even now see the ruins of their dwellings; when the sea is high, they 
are under water, and they are, so to say, buried in jungle, circumstances 
which, at all times and in any locality, must endanger the health of 
colonists. During our stay in the island, the men, though much worked 
in clearing the jungle and levelling the ground, remained in perfect 
health, a few excepted that had exposed themselves to rain or passed the 
nio-ht on land. Neglect of this kind will of course cause the diseases 

Cj ^ 


( 240 ) 


to which Europeans in the tropics, even in the healthiest localities, are 
exposed. But we believe there is every reason to hope that the settle¬ 
ment, without much labor and cost, may, even in a sanitary point of 
view, reach a high degree of perfection.” 

Recent expeditions to the Nicobars have led to more extensive 
enquiries into their sanitary state. We extract a passage from the 
Medical Report of the “ Voyage of the Danish Frigate Galathea” :— 

u The crew of our three ships amounted to 400, of whom 250 were 
Europeans. Though the men were overworked and often wet through, 
the health which they enjoyed during our stay of several months both 
among and on the islands, is above remark, and would show that 
their insalubrity has been much exaggerated. On the other side, 
however, we must not forget that our stay fell in the most favorable 
season; that no one remained on land at nigdit; that the ships 
never stayed long at one and the same place, the longest stay in one 
locality being thirteen days; and that, with few exceptions, we enjoyed 
an uninterrupted sea breeze. Nor should we forget to record the single 
case of misfortune, traceable to the climate of these islands, when 21 of 
the 30 sailors who made an excursion along the Galathea river into the 
interior of Sambillang (Great Nicobar) took dangerously ill about eight 
or fourteen days after our departure from the Nicobars, 4 of them suc¬ 
cumbing to the fever.” 

Our experience of Nicobar fever cases enables us to gave a more 
favorable opinion. Not only did we not lose a single man, but we even 
managed to cut short the most dangerous cases, limiting them to three 
paroxysms at most. Strictly speaking, cases only happened between the 
2nd and 20th April; but as early as the 15th April we had only one 
convalescent in hospital. 

In placing our experience by the side of the statements of scientific 
men who, in former times, visited the Nicobars, we do not wish to imply 
that the question as to the malignity of Nicobar fevers is disposed of, 
though we doubt not that every medical man, after reading the preceding- 
details, will have formed his own opinion. Another consideration will 
perhaps corroborate our inference. 

It is clear that fever is the most prominent sickness in the Nico¬ 
bars, though other epidemics—as cholera, small-pox, &c.,—may be 
expected to exist. We have unfortunately no data to ascertain the 
rate of mortality, or the proportion in which the population of the 
Nicobars increases. Nevertheless, every traveller who has visited the 
Nicobars, and the numerous writers who have accepted the estimates, 
compute the population to be about 6,000, the word ‘about' express¬ 
ing that the estimate is correct within a thousand. Our computa¬ 
tions agree pretty nearly with the common estimate. Now the fact 
we maintain, that the average population of a secluded territory has 
remained stationary, may be looked upon as a satisfactory sign that no 
devastating diseases prevail there. An unusual increase or decrease of 
population, it is well known, is almost always connected with immigration 
or emigration; for the depopulating influences of idemics are, as a rule. 


( *11 ) 


transient, though they may lead to extraordinary differences, as when 
15,000 persons die in the course of a few weeks, as happened in Louisville, 
or 20,000, as in Rio de Janeiro, during a yellow-fever epidemic. But 
the inhabitants of the Nicobars, in spite of the absence of sanitary 
precautions, manage to keep their average population stationary,—suffi¬ 
cient reason, it would appear, for inferring that the climate of these islands 
is not more dangerous than that of any coast district of India. In com¬ 
paring the Nicobars with places like Madras or Point de Galle, we would 
have to remember that the sanitary appliances of modern times have there 
removed many influences detrimental to the general health. We have 
also to bear in mind that the most terrible factors in the mortality of 
civilized countries—typhus and syphilis—are absolutely wanting in the 
Nicobars. Of course, if intending colonists should put down beforehand 
the probable rate of mortality among themselves as equal to the sum of 
the rate observed among the natives plus that due to diseases only found 
among civilized nations, the proportion thus arrived at might indeed 
be deterrent. But we are convinced that, though new diseases may be 
imported by colonists, local diseases, at present prevailing, will decrease. 
We have only to point to Pulo Penang, the nearest neighbour of the 
Nicobars, which is now-a-days used as a sanitarium, while, till lately, it 
was looked upon as one of the most deadly fever-nests. 

The contrast between our opinion and the preconceived idea of 
people regarding the Nicobars may indeed appear remarkable. We 
listened once to a description of the sanitary condition of these islands, 
which was so exaggerated, that the battle field appeared to be a place of 
safety in comparison with a visit to the Nicobars. The well known 
fate of former colonists may have caused his over-drawn description. 
We took occasion to visit the spots where the Moravian Brethren, 
Father Rosen, and the latest colonists had established themselves; their 
settlements one and all lie in the most unfavorable localities on the 
shores of Nancowry Harbour—in itself an unfavorable spot—and of the 
Monkata hills, in close vicinity to extensive marshes and jungle which 
shut out every current of fresh air. 

Let future colonists avoid repeating the mistakes made by their 
predecessors in the choice of localities suitable for the foundation of a 
colony, and it is not unlikely that they will be much less visited by 
fever than the natives. We may quote Madras as an example. The 
Europeans there suffer much less from fever than the Hindoo and Maho- 
medans who wall not give up their old ways of living, though indeed that 
class of natives who have adopted modern appliances, shows a still more 
favorable result. 

Let the marshes which we have seen, and of which we have heard, 
be drained,—their comparatively limited extent guarantees the possibility 
of doing so,—let the jungles be cleared and thinned in a sensible mannei, 
according to the experience of colonists in other parts of the new and 
old world. As most suitable places for colonies we recommend Car- 
Nicobar, Pulo Milu and Kondul, where colonists would meet with a 
minimum of obstacles. If all this be done, we are convinced that the 
Nicobar Islands would soon become healthy and flourishing colonies. 

31 


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CM 

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4 V. 5.—The degrees refer to Reaumur's scale.—Regarding barometrical, ozonometrical observations, vide the Meteorological Report of the Voyage of the. Sovara. 






















































( 244 ) 


Vocabulary of Nicobar-English words , translated from Commodore 
Steen Billes “ Berelning om Corvetten Galathea’s Reiseomkring 
Jorden, 1845, 46 or 47.^ 


This vocabulary has been translated from the Danish account of 
the voyage of His Danish Majesty’s Ship Galathea , by M. A. de 
Roepstorff, an Extra Assistant on the Port Blair Establishment. It was 
originally compiled by the Roman Catholic Missionary M. Plaisant, who 
was stationed at one of the Nicobar Islands called Terressa. The Rev. 
Hanson, a member of the Danish Expedition of 1845, obtained a copy 
from a German, Dr. Philipps, which he took with him on the voyage, and 
made trial of the pronunciation at the places were he landed; he also 
added some words not found in M. PlaisanEs list. M. de Roepstorff is 
naturally suspicious that, as the vocabulary was originally made out in 
French, then translated mto German, again into Danish, and now into 
English, it may have suffered some detriment by these changes. The 
Port Blair Printing Press is also deficient in “ accents/” but M. de 
Roepstorff has done his best with the means at his disposal. 

The chief portion of the vocabulary was prepared at Terressa, 
some words marked N were added at Nancowry, others at the Car- 
Nicobar, C-N. 


A. 

Aapn daps,—to shut. 

Ab, C-N,—boat. 

Abhi,—from lienee, yet. 

Admoot,—reflect, think over. 

Agh, N,—red. 

Ahiet lebre C-N,—read. 

Ahiihot,—ancestor, grandson. 

A’iel C-N,—to count. 

Aithji C-N,—belly, stomach. 

Alppe Ajub,—smoke. 

Ajelkue C-N,—laugh. 

Akah,—know, (Kit)-akah,— I don’t know. 
Akah-eang (eng iang),—understand. 
Akapset,—light (a fire). 

A kahe,—lukewarm. 

Akliate,—across. 

Akatpo’ite,—brain. 

Aid,—morning. 

Aid-aid,—sunrise. 

(Noen)-aki,—this morning. 

Akhik,—make white, wash linen. 
Akhik-tsiekite,—cleanse (in a spiritual 
sense). 

Akhit,—aim. 

Akhiot la mang,—imitate. 

Akit,—scratch, scrape. 

Akhui,—relative. 

Alam,—cheat. 

(Hat alam) (s. hatalang),—to resist. 


Id. Man, Colonel. 

Supdt ., Port Blair and Nicobar . 

A. 

Along,—authorize. 

Aluha,—divide, distribute. 

Alohie,—along. 

Amhoin,—warmth, heat. 

Amm C-N, ahm N, horn,—dog. 
Am-umdjomeh N,—40. 

Am-umdjomeh ruktei N, —50. 

(Iang) amok,—double. 

Ame,—to rain. 

(Ju tong) ame,—it rains. 

Ane (oe),—he, him, she, they, this. 
Ane-pahe,—one (not numeral). 

Anet,—anvil. 

Angana, (ukenhje),—woman. 

| Aros,—rice ( Portuguese ). 

Atam (adam N),—evening, night. 
Atavetsen,—never. 

Athielke,— ) worship, 

Hatielme,— ) or read 
Athuak,—burn, make black. 

Athueta nen pahe,—read. 

Atlhaat,—hedlaat N—bracelet, ring. 
Atmikihai,—to obey. 

(Hat tulan)-atse,—dishonest, untruthful. 
(Karhu)-atse,—too much, 
(Lhuhcehet)-atse,—honestly. 

Aul, N,—black, blue. 

Ave,—to go. 






( 245 ) 


B. 

Bahuceie,—weeping. 

Baju,—one of mankind (the German der 
mensck). 

Baju-ta-kkioaho, N,—rich. 

Bceo,-—egg. 

D. 

Datjaagelah,—wreath of hast. 

Dja (Schowra),—a cheek. 

Disso C-N,—white. 

Dju-baju, N,—man. 

Dhjugar C-N,—drinking vessel of bamboo. 
Drugmat C-N,—eyebrows. 

Dumlar C-N,—tumbler (English). 

E. 

Hahve C-N,—oil. 

Eang,— hear. 

Eang Schia,—leaf, flower, bough. 

(Nka) eang ta schia,—cut boughs. 

Efoa N,—clean. 

Ehelme C-N,—nose. 

Ehong, ena'i,—shell. 

Enrhui,—animal in shell, little animal. 
Elkiumiat,—heart. 

Elum,—sigh. 

Eng,—listen 

Enhangnang C-N,—a watch. 
Enmogne-kn’iniut, N,—button. 

Eonang,—brother, cousin. 
(Khuan)-Eonang,—nephew, niece. 
Eonang-nkenlije,—niece. 

E. 

Faa, faa-fit,— Avipe, sweep. 

Faab-dag N,— sweet Avater. 

Faab,—gape. 

Fa-kaiot,—tobacco. 

F aaklet,—vapour. 

Fhaa,—cut, hew, beat. 

Fhaa khui, tain tinlok.— kill, murder. 
Fhot,—wretch, wretched. 

(Wit) Fhot,—to debase. 

Fo,—to quiet. 

Fd,—field, land. 

Foan-umdjomeh N,—SO. 
Foan-umdjomeh-ruktei N,—90. 

Folt,—open. 

Foue, fen, fuan, foan,—4. 

Fuat,—bite. 

Fue-t6n,—40. 

Fuongato,—forget, omit. 

Fuhotet, Kumonklet,—pour. 

Fuhon (Fun C-N),—navel. 

Fhuhoen,—shoot of a tree. 

Furong,—pine-apple. 

G. 

Gaclji N,—road (Danish, gade.) 
Gadjovathje N,—sister. 

Galahaia N,— heaven. 


G. 

Garan N, karan,—iron. 

Genas N,—hand. 

Ghahce (Khaoet) N,—moon. 

Ghantera C-N,—flesh. 

Ghen net lopah ka vi pahe—speak evil of 
a man. 

Ghen ka vi pahe,—report a man. 
(Pahe-ta)-gken,—arbitrator, e. i., man Avho 
speaks. 

(Tsie)-ghen,—letter, meaning. 

Ginsa C-N,—(finger) nail. 

Goceh, Kooe,—head. 

Goan N,—child. 

Gon,—end, to end. 

Gunheel C-N,—rasp. 

Gundron C-N,—foot. 

H. 

Ha,—cocoanut. 

Ida la,— a contract. 

Haa,—obtain. 

Hah N, haha,—yes. 

H(k)adep, hep,—to plant. 

Hadija,—grandfather. 

Hafot sang’n,— go on board. 

Hae hcegne,—cry. 

H aghi,—tomorrow. 

Hahanong—pair. 

Haheng,— Avind. 

(Yi khink)-haheng,— to air, make wind. 
Hahe,—brother-in-law. 

Hiihe,—happiness, happy. 

Hahe,—alliance. 

Hahe tin pahe,—allied to a person, 
amiable. 

Hahe,—claim back. 

Hahe,—ask 
Hahe-ten,—demand. 

Haliea, harea,—see, look at. 

Hat-hahea,—not see, blind, blindness. 
Haheang,—muscle. 

Hahehaceng,—gratefulness. 

Haheliaceng, hathahang’n —price. 

Haheha,—show. 

Haheham,—sight, view. 

Haliheurl, harol C-N,—hunt, shoot. 
Hah’k,—a smell. 

Hahek,— Avave. 

Hahahmang,—to rise. 

Hahahram,—perish. 

Hat-hehot, hatalang,—disapprove. 
Hahehok,—change, vary. 

Hahem,—call. 

Haheng sakalu,—strong wind. 
Hakihalenma,—salam. 

Hahnhait,—grandmother, ancestors. 

H aho,—pursue. 

Hahaa,—sugar-cane. 

Hali&a, hedwa N,—bamboo. 

Hah&at,—nothing. 

(Miki)-ha'ie,—be disobedient. 





( 246 ) 


H. 

Hai&am C-N,—fowl. 

Hakte,—undermost, palm of hand, beneath 
Halep,—liver. 

Haliet,—search. 

Hamang,—axe. 

Haming,—rain. 

(Vi) Haming,—moisten. 

(Ju-tong) ame,—it rains. 

Hamon,—nostril. 

Hanang,—bladder. 

Hanaschalei N,—bottle. 

Hanhangta,—begin. 

Hanhangta-noet,—beginning. 

Hanhoume,—guard, keep. 

Hooa C-N,—cask of bamboo. 

Harkeka,—shut up, paste up. 

Harihulong C-N,—sorrowful. 

Haraak,—calculate, to count, a measure. 
Haraak kiong,—ship’s cargo. 

Haschoi N,—pot, pail. 

Hat,—not. 

Hat-hcen.—not this, no. 

(Vi)-Hat,—destroy, annihilate. 

Hat,—absent. 

Hatalaug,—refuse, disapprove, oppose. 
Hate,—duck. 

Hatel,—write. 

Hatoeioek C-N,—work. 

Hatenk,—pluck, peel. 

Hatep,—box. 

Hatianan-ton,—20. 

Hatielk, hatielmang, hadju,—bathe, 
Hathanghah,—pay off. 

Hathu,—poor. 

Hatlet,—never. 

Hatmanghnhagn,—never. 

Hatn’ha, —temperance, sick fare. 

Hatnaak,—food, nourishment, victuals, 
feast. 

Hataap,—some. 

Hatulmi hathielke,—read. 

(Lho)-hatse,—active. 

Hawnkolet,—having up, sling. 

He,—the mark of the present tense. 
Heagn (hoegn),—go, leave, go out, break 
up, move, loose, strew. 

Heang,—some one. 

Heha,—hiccup. 

Heha,—rib. 

Heet, hiesse C-N,—sneeze. 

Hehane,—more, to grow, augment, 
multiply. 

Hekaue lopceh,—better. 

Hekaue-lopat-ivi,—to better. 

Hehang—metal. 

Hehang,—centre. 

Hehang, hahiang,—rest, dwell. 

Hehang, liuleanga-pahe,—companion. 
Hehang, huleang, —accompany. 

(Iang) hehe,—sometimes. 


H. 

Hehceie,—dig up a corpse. 

Hehemonk (iangam&ak),— double. 
Hehoem,— pulse. 

Heheten,—tail. 

Hehetsi,—to lessen. 

Hceliia (kihia),—dust. 

(Kamape) hehaahe, sea weed. 

Hehja, nhja N, enau N, —areca-nut. 
Hehok,—hair. 

Hehomang,—esteem, wish. 
Hehomang-ta-karhu,—ambition, avidity. 
Hehomang-ta-rame khia,—desire after 
every tree, cupidity. 

Hehor,—much abundance. 

Hekor khui,—several. 

Hehot,—order, according to, to wish. 

(Hat)-hehot,—disapprove. 
Hehot-kakea-ta-rame,—wish to see every 
one, curious. 

Hehot vetsen,—to consent, to agree to. 
Hehot vetsen,—consent, approval. 

Heh’t khia,—root. 

Hehu,—black, dirty. 

Helium,—breathe. 

Hekurne, hsehokre,—copulate, make preg¬ 
nant. 

He-kapet,—fear of death. 

Helang,—good. 

Hsele,—take away. 

Hellamong,—feast, festivity. 

Hem,—approach, come. 

Hem,—railed off place. 

Hennen,—near by. 

Hen,—after. 

Hen, tanhje,—warm, heat. 
(Hunhang)-heng,—difficult. 

Hamg,—meat, life, sound. 

Hsen’he,—body. 

Henhsel N, —flute. 

Hengliataal,—to like. 

Hetpati C-N,— sweep. 

Hetsig’n,—immediately, incessantly. 

Hi,—flower. 

(Kun)-kia,—why. 

Hiaii sang’n —enter. 

Hibo,—plaintain. 

Hibuga,—pisang. 

Hie,—this. 

Hifu—boil. 

Hifu-keu,—dirty black. 

Hifu-moet,—black. 

Hikae,—poor. 

Hiheie, kakamang.—say, tell. 

Hihia (hceliia),—dust. 

Hakaai,—forbid, defend. 

(Tan)-hik aai,—trangress. 

Hisosi, atliielke,—worship. 

Hilee,—beat, punish. 

Hiliang hilceang C-N,— thirst. 

Himegn,—refuse. 





( U7 ) 


H. 

(Vi)-hinai-khui,—moisten. 

Himaan,—ripe. 

(Ivi)-himaan,—become ripe. 

Hinhi,—interpreter. 

Hiti, hite N,—- laugh. 

Hitiak, itoeak N,—sleep. 

(Nko) -hitiak,—mat. 

Hitiak-te,—to sleep. 

Hitukaman,—pointed. 

Hiu (king),—our, ours. 

Hiuk,— sun. 

Hivi,—spirit, demon. 

Hoatse,—straigktforward, seeming, 

straigkt, virtue, to ketter. 
Hok £ kangatsike,—kate, akkor, 
displease, disgust. 

Haai,—we. 

(Hat)-kaai,—near ky. 

Haake,—gatker, collect, unite. 

Haakt—yes. 

Haaik,—far off. 

Hoinrse, C-N,— sit down. 

Hohseng,—air. 

Hok inse,—firewood. 

Hokte,—over, top of palm. 

Hole,—ascend. 

Holhoehang’n, —akuse, missuse. 
Homlaame,—gold, gild. 

Honke,—appetite, hunger. 

Haane,—in, inside. 

Honhaame,—to reserve. 

Haat,—aksent. 

Haat eta,—elsewkere. 

Hota,—to set, put. 

Hotsiet, —descend. 

Hotsiet pake kamapet,—sink dead man, 
kury. 

Hufget,— we. 

Hukato,—foliage. 

Hukag’n,— of yore, in old days. 

Huken,—kefore. 

Hukekohe,—get drunk, drunk. 
Huk’kceg’n,—likerate, kreak up, leave, 
move. 

Huh’kceg’nkcet,—lose tke road. 

Hukeu,—rick. 

Huhe, kukomi—make, work, create. 
Huhi,—kill. 

Hukiacet,—amuse oneself, joke. 
(Ka)-huhiaoet—ornament, 

Hukioat C-N), —necklace. 

(N faa) -kuko,—dream. 

Hukot,—fisk. 

Huk,—kide, scale, leatker, skin. 
(Karhu)-huk—kunckkack. 

(La) kuk,—outside. 

Huk-kogn,—kehind. 

Huk-emat,—eyelaskes. 

Huket, kukiet,—carry, receive, surprise, 
kring, seek, bring away, lift down, 
touch, catck. 


H. 

Huket-ta-ieng-kkiuk,—bring together in 
one spot, heap. 

Huket-vim,—invite, call, 

(Vi)-huk,—occupy. 

Hukhaahe,—warm. 

Huleang, together, reciprocal partner, 
attendant. 

Huleanga pake,—companion. 

Hul’ku,—tke fat. 

Humbaidsa N,—little. 

Hungi,—day. 

Hunhang-keng,—difficult. 

Huroh,—low. 

H urokatse,—much. 

Huruh,—a cover, to hatch. 

Huro (En) kuroke,—secretly. 

Hutcet. 

Huveang,—cocoanut tree, 

Hyhaho,—elder, eldest. 

Hoeang N,—1. 

Hoeang-kata N,—9. 

Hoeh’t kkia, —root, 

Hoeke, tahoe,—vein. 

Hcem,—garden. 

Hoenang,—shinbone. 

Hoeng,—since. 

Hoeng N,—day, sun. 

Hoeng,—live, life. 

Hoenginein,— 

Hcem-umdgomeh N— j 
Hoengsce N,—come here. 

Hoevret C-N,—8. 

I. 

Iaeang,—11. 

Iak,—merchandise. 

Iana, ianet.—occasion, if, as supposed, 
when, 
lang,—1. 

Iang amok,—double. 

Iang kehe,—sometimes. 

Iangnang,—100 t 

Iang-ta-ghen,—word (a word spoken). 
Iang-ton,—11. 

Iang-ton-foue,—14 
Iang-ton tani,—15. 

Iang-ton-kaha,—12. 

Iang-ton-luoe,—13. 

Iatet,—go in, enter. 

Ioet,—father. 

Ioeie,—mother. 

Ikik-locet,—sew. 

Ilenhe,—tie. 

Imiang,—one, first. 

Imiang-ti-emat,—one eyed. 

Irat,—sharpen. 

Ita,—here. 

Ivi,—become. 

Ivikoatse,—order, decree. 

Ivi himon,—become ripe. 

Ivi kopn’e,—become meagre. 





J. 


( 


Japi C-N,—key. 

Jaange C-N,—descend. 

Jenon,—cocoanut. 

Jojolaid N,—bathe. 

Ju-tong-ame,—it rains. 

Iv. 

Kha,—fish. 

Ka huhiaoet,—ornament. 

Ivaaal,—boil 
Khait ban,—then. 

Khaoet (kbuoet,)—when. 

Kaeoet,—seldom. 

Kafn’kiak,—cork. 

Kafaai, kaiduma,—knife. 

Kaiet,—father, old man. 

(Laksi) kaiit,—bay. 

(Fa)-kaiot,—tobacco. 

Kahihot,—my friend. 

Kaheha,—oar. 

(Tikaat) kabehole,—cry, scream. 
Kahia,—be confined, to abort. 

Ivahaak,—pigeon, turtledove. 
Kahuhoke C-N,— swine. 

Kai,—road. 

Kaiing, kejin,—ape. 

Kaifit.—victuals. 

(Tukan)-kaim,—carpenter. 

Kalaa,—shell. 

Kalet,—bard, strong, miserly. 

Kalama,—gait. 

Kalhahot,—sexual organs. 

Kalot,—theft. 

(Pabe-ta) kalot,—thief. 

Kolran,—bone. 

Kalbj aat,—cli aracter. 

Kam amice,—ocean. 

Kamang,—citron. 

Kamang-kalin,—orange (sweet citron). 
Kamape-hehaahe,—rope. 

Kamape-ta karhu,—an anchor rope. 

K am ap cet.—death. 

K (S) aminaat, —1,000 Feet. 

Karnuin, kamoe N, fowl. 

Kana-khia,—bud, shoot. 

Iv an am e,— w i ck. 

Kanhiong,—beverage, liquor. 
Kanihele-khui,—bead pillow. 
Kanaat-ta-pemetcbeu,—kni fe. 

Ivantai (Little N),—sit down. 

Kapoet,—to die, death. 

Kapcet-ioet,—dead father, orphan. 
Kapap,—waistcoat. 

Kap,—turtle. 

Kaptan,—captain. 

Karah,—whale, fish, fishhook. 

Karaka,—parrot. 

Karan,—worm. 

Karhe,—quantity. 

Karhe pahe,—man’s quantity, age. 
Karhu,—much, abundant, abundance. 
Karhu- viang,— thick-bellied. 


248 ) 

K. 

Karhu-huk,—hunchbacked. 
Karhu-atse,—too much. 
Karhu-khugtot,—strong heart, love. 
Karhu tamoi,—strong fire. 

Karuije,—bow-net. 

Kasson,—box (French.) 

Kat,—voyage. 

Kata,—under. 

Katsi,—because. 

Ivatsi-ka,—how. 

Ivatsi-khui,—shave the head. 

Katu C-N,—rest. 

Ivaviot,—old. 

Ivavoe,—fall. 

Ivaveang’n, kavhehile,—reject. 

Ivoei,—road. 

Khcet,—nest. 

Kete, koet,—to give. 

Keatatu,—opening. 

Ivel, C-N,—arm. 

Kerahiere C-N,—go. 

Kerebusse,—hat, turban. 
Kerebusse-ten-pamoin,—warhat. 

Khiu,—I, my, mine. 

Khiuhe,—our, ours. 

Khiuh, t,—we. 

Kheui C-N,—hair. 

Klaalere C-N,—get up. 

Iviank-fo-naat,—rage, burst of anger. 
Kidjang N,—deaf. 

Khihahcet,—shivering. 

Ivhiak,—boil, evil, pain, to suffer. 
Ivhiak (or djak)-al-khni,—headache. 
Khiak-viang,—pain in the stomach. 
Ivhia,—tree, forest, path. 

(Eang)-khia.—leaf, flower. 
Khia-te-pemetscheu,—little tree, bush. 
Khjiang,—have, possess. 

Khiangse,—law. 

Kiarum,—needle. 

Ivhianti (s) khiansi,—custom. 

Iviattrai C-N,—mat. 

Khien,—receive. 

Ivilap C-N,—neck. 

Khinmunte,—fin ger joints. 

(Hat raate)-kiuhaie,—indefatigable. 
Kinhji,—merchandise. 

Kinlap-kinloh,—bud. 

Ivinloht, kinlong, C-N,—ring. 

Ivinloh,—dress. 

K i n m eck,—key. 

Kinpeu kanpaaeh,—amber. 

Kinp (1) on g-nang,—ear-orna men t. 
Kinlueh’si,—to swallow. 
(Imiang)-kinluehsi,—mouthful. 

Ivin flit,—cough. 

Khinione,—child. 

Khiniong,—boy. 

Kiusset,—sit down. 

(N pha) -kinmoele,—tumbler. 

Kinte,—bad humour. 







( 249 ) 


K. 

Kintkeu kliia,—song. 

Kinvah,—pampel-moss. 

Kinvai,—key. 

Kiong,—high. 

Kiong (S) tjiong,—ship. 

Kiong invan,—man-of-war. 

Kiong, kaiing,—building. 

Khiaa,—deep. 

Kipsi,—to lessen. 

Kirin,—dagger, weapon, knife. 

Kirhol,—curved, crooked. 

Kissot,—nail (of hand). 

Kistot,—sorrowful, anxious, melancholy, 
annoyance. 

Kit-akah N,—don’t know. 

Khiuk,—place, town, room, where. 
Khiuk-khiong—anchorage, place for ship, 
harbour. 

Khiuk-khinion,—place for child, i. e., 
craddle. 

Khiuk-pamoui,—place for war, i. e., camp. 
K h i n k - v h a, —p ulse. 

Khiu-knkjee,—village, place for houses. 
Khink-hivi,—churchyard, place for ghosts. 
Khiuk titial,—dark place, cave. 
Khiuk-tamaai (dhiuk foltene C-N),— 
place for fire, lamp. 

Khiuk-sikia,—place for birds, bird’s cage. 
(Hat)-khiuka khiuka,—either, or. 
Khium-neng,—bone, joint. 

Kiuterce C-N,—9. 

Kivaie som,—to limp. 

Khaa (nkaa,)—fall, crush. 

Khoin, konttje N,—son-in-law. 

Khor, kel, koal N,—arm. 

Khova C-N,—spew. 

Kaag’ hatot,—piety, pity, heart. 
Kaaghot-hfthi (tin),—to love. 

Kokmith jama N,—20. 

Kom,—bring, carry. 

Kom-ta-liap,—teach, i. e., bring know¬ 
ledge. 

Kom-ta-akah,—experience, attention. 
Komiahthje N,—father-in-law. 

Komivi,—friend. 

Khongliat, khunhje,—time, i. e., one 
time, two times. 

Kaat, kaag’n,—acid. 

Kot, kogn mifae,—ear. 

Kopn’e,—meagre. 

(Ivi) kopn’e,—get meagre. 

Kot monah N,—thigh. 

Kovaake C-N,—basket. 

K ebo,—buffaloe. 

Kua, ki, kaa,—one another, some few. 
Kuanghere C-N,—wood, firewood. 

Khua C-N,—face. 

Khuan (goan N),—child. 

(Nkonhje)-khuan,—son-in-law. 
Khuan-kamuin,—servant, adopted child, 
pupil. 


K. 

Kiiuan kamQin fgon hai<5m), —chicken, 
lvhuan-eonang—niece. 

Khucen-mhce,—lamb. 

ron)-khui,—parasol. 

Kucet,—when. 

Khui (gooeh N),—head, population, top, 
over, on. 

I\hui-to,—high land, mountain. 
Khui-kaptan,—chief. 

(\ i-hinai)-khui,—moisten. 

Khui-men,—bay. 

Khui,—drive away. 

Kuitlibre,—write. 

(Fhaa) -kh ui,—murder. 

Khugtot (S) khaughatot,—heart. 

Kuhihu,—fist. 

Kuikanan, kuikelmone N.—knee. 
Ivuluam,—plantain. 

Kum,—find. 

Kumhje,—father-in-law. 

Kum’t,—mouse, rat, rabbit. 

Kun ’hcehie,—move. 

Kun, ki, k6,—who, which, (Acc kun, ka). 
Kun, ki, ko,—what, (Acc kun, ka). 

Kun tsie,—wherefore, why. 

Kunmenta,—pepper. 

Kunte C-N,—little finger. 

Ivun tot,—business. 

Kunvi kunhuhomi,—make, work, business 
Ivuping,—yams. 

Kuping-kaliu,—sweet potatoes. 

Kurian, karian N,—pot. 

Knsang’n’,—go, walk. 

Kuchi ki,—precious, sweet, lovely. 
Kutuhce, —move, stir. 

Kuve,—pour. 

Kcet,—hole. 

(Huh’hceg’n) koet,—lose one’s way. 

L. 

La,—O. 

La,—half. 

Laal C-N,— egg. 

La-en-tat, —natural. 

Ladije,—evening. 

Lafor,—north. 

Lament,— to be heavy. 

(Hat) lament,—not heavy, light. 

La-huk,—the back. 

La-kuk,—out-side. 

Lahuhot,—matter in a boil. 

Lakapah or kapak,—west. 

Laksi-k.aiit,—bay. 

Luluh’t,—mob. 

Laming,—a pack. 

Lampolei,—shower of rain. 

Lang,—lustful. 

Lanet,—chalk. 

Langhapa,—north-west. 

L’kag’n,—forget. 

Let,—end, to end. 


32 











M. 


L. 

L’hset-tamsi,—candlestick. 

L’hoet-pulo,—thigh. 

Letng,— never. 

Lenku,—earthquake. * 

Liap,—know, able. 

(Ta)-liap,—knowledge, art. 

(Hat)-liap,—he ignorant, ignorant. 
Liap-(tan-rame),—(towards every one), 
expert. 

(Kom-ta)-liap,—bring knowledge, teach. 
L’hiang,—name, to name. 

Lhi khui. 

Lionne lease C-N. 

Libre,—nosegay. 

Lindrijen C-N,—bow. 

Looeh, luseh N,—3. 

Lose-umdjomeh N,—60. 
Loseh-umdjomeh-ruktei N,—70. 

Loset, lose N,—cloth, linen. 

Losetva,—red cloth. 

(Ikih)-loset,—to sow (with needle). 

Lhaak,—agreeable, expensive, good, 
admirable, wonder. 

Loka-nang, laloke-ko-nang N,—hole in 
the year. 

Long,—feast. 

L’hop C-N,—hunger. 

Lopah,—well, good, fine. 

Lopat-makmet,—pretty. 

(Hat)-lopah N,—not good, had conscience. 
L’hohtase,—active. 

L’liolevi,—be expert. 

L’hormang,—-assist, help. 

L’hom,—poor. 

Longhaat,—white cloth. 

Loto, loet,—quick. 

Lhotksi,—remove. 

Lotohiaala,—right hand. 

Lusehman,—triangle; 

Lusehkinnhji N,—80. 

L’huhsehet,—right (not left). 

L’huhsehet atse,—honesty. 

Lupa,'—flesh. 

Laekimaan,—thigh. 

M. 

Ma,—thou, thee, you. 

Mae C-N,—ocean. 

Mahaa,—half raw. 

Mahehaat,—food. 

Maik’e,—oil. 

Mak C-N,—water. 

Maka,—soon. 

(Neu)-maka,—present at. 

Make,—brilliant, splendid. 

Mhakti,—arm. 

Maleng,—worm. 

Mam C-N,—blood. 

Man,—hook. 

Manam,—milk. 

Mang,—the end, frame, boundary, top. 


Mining,—nose. 

Mangce,—stone. 

Maniak,—wax. 

Manaat,—new-moon. 

Matahcet— earth, village, island, world. 
Matahoet-ta-karhu,—big island, main 
land. 

Meang,—cat. 

Mei'k,—lightning, splendour. 

Meh&ahet,—spirit, soul. 

Men,—thou, thee, thine, you. 

Meng,—your, yours. 

Mhcene,—custom. 

Mhin (mkantje N),—stick. 

Men am,— wrath, anger. 

Menua, manoing N,—lip. 

Met,—face. 

(Hifu)-mcet,—black. 

Metarn,—prey, exchange, lend, borrow, 
use pretext. 

Meul’t,—let one’s water. 

Meut,—} r ou, thou, thee. 

Miiaoe,—to walk. 

Mifaie,—hawk. 

Miki-haie,—be disobedient. 

Milcet,—middle. 

Mineole,—nonsensical man. 

Miniceije,—the little finger. 

Minhonn’he,—to lie, a lie. 

Minluene,—priest, prophet. 

Minrua,—thumb. 

Mioajah, mifhouaia,—heaven. 

Miscliiana C N,—bird. 

(Yi)-missa,—celebrate (Latin). 

Mit5e,—cheat, lie, swear false. 

Mitae hat lopah, (lie not good) i. e. y 
slander. 

Mitcek,—short. 

Mivi,—friend. 

Moah N,—nose. 

Molaat,—necklace. 

Mono'i, manoing (Schowra) meno N.— 
mouth. 

Moronka,—pipe. 

Muite,—sweet. 

Mulolie,—sort. 

Munte, mukte. gunte N,—hand. 

Moe, mcen, —thou, thee, thy, you. 
Mhmaram, i , , 

(Khuan)-mhse, 

N. 

(Te)-nam,—balance to good. 

Nan,—one. 

Nang,— oar. 

Nat N,—not. 

Nehang,—fat. 

Nehaurle,—weapon. 

Neheurle,—flute. 

Nceg,—you, thou, thee. 

NehouS,—middle. 








N. 


N. 

Nehang-nang,— watch. 

Nen-maka,—present at. 

Nene,—point out. 

Neole,—stammer, speak nonsense. 
Noet-hoet-umang,--some one. 

Noet.—neither. 

Nfare,—wing. 

Nfha,—stroke, cut. 

Nphe,—live, dwell, rest, await, im¬ 
moveable. 

(Hat)-roatk-npho,—inconstant. 
Nphe-ta-khiuk-hivi,—stop in the place of 
the spirit, i. e., condemn. 

Npha-kinmcele,—tumbler. 

Nfaa,—blow, puff. 

Nfaa-huho,—a dream. 

Nfoon, onfoan N,—8. 

Nghaat,—cocoanut tree. 

Nghen,—announce. 

Nghong,—burn. 

Nghoik,—craddle, shake. 

Nhanga.taat,—reign. 

Nheole-vi, te,—cause. 

(Hat) nheole,—mute, dumb. 

(Hat)-nhin,—fine, delicate. 

Nhia C-N,-child. 

Nhjee, nji,—house. 

Nhiong,—drink. 

Njun N,—moustaches. 

Nhoi N,—beard. 

Nkenet.—sit down. 

Nka,-eang-ta-khia,—cut boughs off. 

Nk (i) enhje, nkanhje,—wife. 
Nkenhje-khuan,—daughter, daughter-in- 
law. 

Nknehje-manam,—wet-nurse. 

Nkinhje,—pap, wicked step-mother. 
Nkeune-ntan,—carry. 

Nkeime C-N,—to have. 

Nko,—bark. 

Nkho-hitiak,—bast to sleep on, i. e., 
mat. 

Nkonhje—boy, human being, man, hus¬ 
band. 

Nkhaa,—crush. 

Nlan hj e,—ocean. 

Nlen,— fortify, make fast, tie, rail, gird, 
surround, press, shut. 

Nlion,—ocean, sea. 

Nlong,—neck. 

Nlong ha,— cocoanut, (prepare one.) 

Nlong te,—empty cocoanut. 

Nmanhj e,—beard. 

Nmmnhje,—captain, old. 

Naale,—green, blue, blue cloth. 

Nole,—thorn. 

Np6n res,—rump. 

Nreng'n tsie,—else, other thing, differ¬ 
ence. 

Nrong. khui,—umbrella. 

Nrongkte,—give. 


Nsie,—to grub. 

Nta,—cease. 

N tanhj e, *—basket. 

Ntap,—liver 

Ntaak,—antler (Danish talc). 

Ntsang,—boil 

Ntsie-hsen,—(as this), to accustom. 

Nseng N,—here. 

Nhaeng, naen,—she, him, this. 

Nsen hoeng, noenhoe hceng N,—this day, 
to-day. 

Noen-aki,—this morning. 

0. 

Oan N,—throw up. 

Oaydna N, — hunger, 

Oh,—0 

Oh, ceh, ah N,—2. 

Ok C-N, — back. 

Olmat C-N,—eye,—oalmang (plural). 
Omnan,—how much. 

Omnean,—who many. 

Oljoala C-N,—to answer. 

Op.—discover. 

Oplaap.—to sleep, a sleep. 

Opt (1) aap,—tobacco. 

P. 

Pahe,—man. 

Pahe-ta-ghen, — umpire (man to speak.) 
Pahe-kamapset,—dead man, corpse. 
(Hat)-pake,—not man, i. e., animal. 
Pahat,—fear, make afraid. 

Pahat-pahe,—insanity. 

Pah ia,—moist. 

Paholii,—to rot. 

Pa'iju,—oar. 

Pait, — snake. 

Paivaat,—eel. 

Pala,—fire. 

Pale,—ball. 

Pale-ta-karhu,—big ball, cannon-ball. 
Pamoin,—fight, war, enclose, blockade. 
(Yi)-pamoin, — to fight. 

Pap,—-father, uncle. 

Para,—silver. 

Pataxi,—break, crush. 

Patu-ta-lopah,—the pretty stone, marble. 
Patu-ta-karhu,—rock, big stone. 
Patre-ta-kinhji,—merchant. 

Pea,—shear the hair, peal. 

Peitset,—little. 

Peitse-ivi,—make short. 

Pehang-khia,—to saw. 

Peku C-N,—orange. 

Pengatt,—forget. 

Piset,—clay. 

Pimetscheu,—little. 

Pipa,—cask, ton, (Portuguese). 

Paat,—ugly. 

Prata,—copper, lead. 




p. 


s. 


( 252 ) 


Pu,—also. 

Pulo, — island (Malay). 

Pun, pu,—with regard to. 

Pujoet-anoe N,—sit down you. 

Puron,—lead. 

Purhon, parhon C-N,—rope. 
Purhon-ta-karhu,—anchor rope. 

Poe,—clearness, light. 

Pseite. 

R. 

Rae,—canoe. 

Rae,—leaf. 

Rhagne, rhigne,—run. 

Rakn,—crush, break. 

Rhamang,—danger, fear. 

(Hat)-rhamang,—dare. 

Rame-kkiuk,—every place, here and there. 
Rame pahe,—every one, man. 

Rkane, rhsene,—escape. 

Rava C-N,—no, not. 

Reak,—water. 

Reaksnan,—rich on water. 

Reaktsi,—hew off. 

Reankiang,—elbow. 

Reliable,—shoe, slipper. 

Ren aam,—hammer. 

Renaang,—full moon. 

Renaant,—plaster, medicine. 

Reugk,—arrive, come. 

Rhaatk, rhaalke,—surely, truly. 
Rhaatk-ghen,—cell for certain, assure, 
Rhaam,—make flat. 

Raatk,—be able to. 

Raatk-kapoet,—mortal. 

Raatk-ivi,—possible, easy to make. 
Raatk-ane,—able to. 

(Hat)-raatk-nphe,—inconstant. 

(Hat) -raatk-kapoet,—immortal. 

(H at)-raatk,—impossible. 

(Hat) -raatk-kinhaie,—in defati gable. 
Rkonk,—grow. 

Rue, roe, ruoe N,—boat. 

Ruhe,—shadow. 

Ruheu,—oar, to sail. 

S. 

Sa,—once. 

Sabola,—onion ( Portuguese). 

Sakt,—give back, return year. 

Sahuat,—throw up. 

Sakalot,—red, red cloth. 

Sakali,—strong wind. 

Sakalu,—strong. 

Sakiah,—brown, red. 

Sakit,—sick, sickness. 

Sakit-pahohi,—sick, rotten. 

Sak’n,—uncertain. 

(Hat)-sak’n,—perhaps. 

Salot,—round, circle. 

Sam N,—10. 

Sam-hoen’g N,—11. 


Sarn-ok, ah N,—12. 

Sam-luseh, loaeh N,—13. 

Sam-foan, N,—14. 

Sam-tanein N,—15. 

Sam-tafuel N,—16. 

Sam-is’at N,—17. 

Sam-onfoan (anfoan) N,—18. 
Sam-kceang-hata N,—19. 

Samin (e),—dagger. 

Saminius, saht,—year. 

Samong,—1,000. 

S (k) aminaat,—1,000 feet. 

San am,—spoon. 

Sanam,-nang,—ear, spoon. 

Sanam-kanap,—tooth-pick. 

Sanam kaveang’nti sanumpte,— anchor. 
Sanlua,—hoolC 
Sapeu,—hat. 

Schankal C-N,—thing to carry water over 
the shoulder on. 

Sckap,—an s wer. 

Schceh’t,—the day after to-morrow. 

Sehia,—exchange. 

Sekong,—elbow. 

Setum,—box. 

Sethj, C-N,—wash. 

Si N,—flower. 

! Siap,— to instruct. 

,1 Sisegn,—long time. 

| Sikia,—bird. 

' Sinaak,—horn. 

| Sittam C-N,—fireplace. 

Som, son,—10. 

Som-khinnhji,— (10 by 10) i. e., 100. 

Sukri—sugar ( Portuguese.) 

Sum,—man, people. 

' Sum,—to brush. 

! Sumtschia,-—Chinese. 

T. 

Ta,—one of the articles. 

Ta, thae C-N,—breast, breast-nipple. 
Toauge C-N,—cocoanut tree, 
j Tae-mattae C-N,—came, (past tense.) 

; Ta-nlijee,—b} r . 

Tafahole, tahseoe C-N,—skin. 

| Takang,—fat. 
j Takcei C-N,—present at. 
i Tahihaal,—cloud. 

Tahia, tahja C-N, tahiaal C-N, —ladder 

staircase. 

Tahong,—tobacco. 

Tabula,—yams. 

Taki, takui, taghi, N,—to-morrow. 
Talomme C N,—cigar. 

Tam N,—backside, back. 

Tamaai, tarnia, C-N, tamoaie,—fire, coals. 
Tan hihaai,—exceed, transgress. 

Taui, tanein C-N.—5. 

Tani-ton,— (5 times 10) i. c.. 50. 
Tanikinnbji N,—60. 








( 253 ) 


T. 

Tanein-umdjomeh,—(5 times 20) i.e., 100. 
Tanhje,—warm 

Tahnihoetsen,—gift, sacrifice, favor. 
Tanjogua C-N,—plantain. 

Tanaan khul,— turban. 

Tapoa C-N,—the cheek. 

Taram,—wine, arrack, liquor. 

Ta-rame,—every one. 

Ta-rame-khiuk,—all places, everywhere. 
Taring,—channel. 

Tavaate C-N,—pearl. 

Tace,—flight (of birds), fly. 

Te,—make, put. 

Telaat,—ant. 

Ten, tin,—that, lest, towards. 

Ten,—mother. 

Ten mela,—looking-glass. 

Ten am,—s ur plus. 

Tcet, theunghatoet,—complete. 

Tethaat,—enough. 

Theufi,—arrive, reach. 

Thin,—go. 

Thiudi-okei,—carry thee hack, go. 

Thaap C-N,—appetite. 

Thjajas N,—deep. 

Tikaat, tekaat, thekakh raare C-N,—sing. 
Tikaat kahehaale,—scream. 

Timlok,—lance. 

Tin-lap-nhjee,—before the house, 
Tineang-khia,—to saw. 

Tingjohu N,—white. 

Tingoet C-N,—moon. 

Titial,—dark. 

Tohicen-ate 1 washing. 

Tohiceki-te } bathing. 

Taak (e),—pull, draw. 

Taakne,—tear asunder. 

Tolcet,—hew to pieces, divide. 

Tot,—heart. 

Ta-en-tot,—n aturally. 

Tsang,—voyage, follow. 

Tschah,—tea. 

Tsang-kji,—my, mine. 

Tsang-mce,—yours. 

Tschalling,—long. 

Tschjance N,—lance. 

Tschu,—pure. 

Tschu-khugtot,—chastity. 

Tschi,—old. 

Tsi,—nature. 


T. 

Tsiang,—sweet, good. 

(Hat)-tsiang,—wicked, sour, bitter. 

Tsie,—like, sort. 

Tsie ham,—self. 

(N)tisi hcen,—accustom. 

Tsie-ncen,—as this. 

Tsie-ance,—as this, as much as. 

Tsie-ghen,— (like word), meaning, letter. 
(Kun)-tsie,—why. 

(Yi-ta)-tsie,—to observe. 

Tsiekite,"-cleanness. 

Tsiekite-sethj C-N,—wash the hands. 
Tsieki-viang,—clean (the stomach). 
(Akluk)-tsie kite,—clean (spiritually). 
Tsihe,—from hence, future. 

Tsigamang,—fall on the knees. 
Tsio-matahcet,—coast. 

Tui,—kill. 

Tukan-kaim, —carpenter. 

Tuktei-hceng, umdjomeh-tuktei N,—30. 
Tulan,—just, good. 

(Hat)-tulan (atse),—unjust, indecent, dis¬ 
honest, rascal. 

(Hat)-tulan-ten-pahe,—not just to a man 
to offend. 

U. 

Ud N,—kill. 

Uhehaa,—raw. 

Umag N,— fire-place. 

Ungha,—eat. 

Unschongha N,—to go. 

Uschthan,—bell. 

Y. 

Vha vhoa N,—blood. 

(Khiuk)-vha,—pulse, 
l Vathaat,—value. 

' Vetseng,—like to. 

(Hata)-vetseng,—according to. 
(Hat-ghen)-vetsen,—(not tell as) deny. 
(Hehot)-vetsen,—to agree, to consent, a 
] consent. 

Vetsen,—enough. 

Yi, vihuk,—make, employ. 

Vi-painoin,—fight. 

| Yi-khiuk liaheng,—air out (make place). 

; Yiam,—stomach, belly, 
i (Huket) vim,—to invite, call. 







\ 


( 


■z 54 ) 


Note on the Language of tlfe Nicobarians .—V. Ball, Esq. 

During the short period of my stay in the Nicobars, I did not 
attempt any investigations regarding’ the language, as I did not intend 
to enter upon a subject to which, from want of a knowledge of Malay, 
or the services of an efficient interpreter, I felt I could not do justice. 
Since my return to Calcutta, however, I have found that the five 
published vocabularies of the language spoken at Nancowry and the 
adjoining islands supplement each other's deficiencies to such an extent 
that, by comparison, a very complete vocabulary can be obtained. 

Unfortunately, reference cannot be made to a vocabulary which 
is said to have been published by the French Missionaries who resided on 
the Island of Terresa. 


In preparing this compilation I have had two objects in view,— 

First. —To supply a basis, which will render it comparatively 
easy for any of the officers engaged at the Nicobars to prepare a full 
and correct list of words. 


Secondly. —To facilitate a comparison being made between this 
language and the languages of the various islands of the Malayan 
Archipelago, and so to trace, if possible, the origin of the Nicobarian race. 

I have already compared this list with the 117 words. in 33 
languages of the Malay Archipelago collected and arranged by 
Mr. Wallace * 

The result has been to show that the Nicobarian language is 
distinct from all the others. The following examples would seem to 
show, however, that there may be a remote connection :— 


English. 

Nicobarian. 

1 Mysol. 

Dog; 

Ham or Am 

Yem 

House 

Nji or Nee 

De 

H and 

Kaneetay 

Kanin 

Nail 

Kaisckna 

Kasebo 

2 Bouton 

Mother 

Cilia Encliana 

In ana 

Tongue 

Kalelak 

Lilah 

3 Tidor 

Skin 

Ihe 

A’hi 

Water 

Dak or Rak 

Aki 

4 Goram, Ac 

Fire 

Eeohay 

Hai 

vocabulary 

herewith published w 

ell illustrates the ne 


auopwug bume ugiu system oi transliteration. in several cases, the 
five authors have spelt the same word in four or five different wavs. 
e.g., House— Gni, IInee , Nji, Njee, Nee. Woman— Encana, Ungcan. 
Angana , Fnglcana. Cocoa nut —Ho at, Gn/iuat, Gnoatt , Gnoat, and others, 


# The Millay Archipelago, Vol. II.. Appendix. 







In some cases the words used by the different authors are so 

*/ 

obviously different, that it seems probable that there has been some 
mistake, e. g., Beard— Hignoughn, Boyalkiah, Inhoing. Hair— Enchojon, 
Inkoi , Joghy Yoo ock. Knife— Henabhoa , Mo ah, Kuhanap , Innoette , fyc. 
It will be a matter of no great difficulty to every one on the spot who 
may now undertake the preparation of a revised vocabulary to ascertain 
the causes of these differences, and make the necessary corrections. 


Vocabulary of the Language spoken in the Central Nicobar Islands. 


i 

English. 

Fontana, 1795. 

Barbe, 1846. 

Rink, 1847. 

Novara, 1862. 

Man, 1869. 

All 




Oomtdhm. 


Ambergris 


Kampei 




Another 

. 




Deeoh. 

Arm 

Choal 



Koal 

Koall. 

Arrow 


- 


Bel 


Ape 




Dooaeen Kaeen 


Axe 




Enloin 


Back 

Och 





Bad 




Hadlapa 


Banana 




Hiboo 


Beard 

Hignoughn 

Boyalkiah 


Inhoing 


Beautiful ... 


. 


Lapoa 


Belly 

U Ilian 

Uhian 


Wiuang 


Betelnut ... 

Heja 



Hakayee 


Do. leaf 

Achce 



Aray 


Big 





Karup. 

Bird . 




Sitchna 


Bird’s nest... 

Inlegne 

Akai 




Black 

Thanula 

. 


Oeel 


Blue 




Tclioongoa 


Blood 




Wooah 


Boat 



Dua 

Deua 

Dooey. 

Body 

Bone 




Okaha 

Ung-ejing 

Olendie. 

Boot 





Supatra. 

Bow 

Boy 

Bracelet 

Halhat 



Donna 

Kanioom 


Brass 




Kalahaee 
























































































































































( 25G ) 

Vocabulary of the Language spoken in the Central Nicobar Islands —could. 


English. 

Fontana, 1795. 

Barbe, 1840. 

Rink, 1847. 

Novara, 1862. 

Man, 1869. 

Bread 




Puang. * 


Breast 

Tha 



Alendaja 


Breeches 

Hanha 





Brother 

. 


. 

Tschao-anyana 

•••••• 

Calf (of leg) 




Kanmoana 


Calm 

Gnam 




. 

Cane 

Cannon 

Nat 


. 

Hin-waw 


Canoe 

See 

Boat 




Cat 

Cochinf 





Chain 

. 



Malao 

. 

Chair 

Henpojou 



. 


Cheek 




Tapoah 


Chest 

Chief 

Aptejo 


. 

Oomiah-mattai 


Child . 

Chegnoun 




Kainyoon. 

Chin 

Incaougn 

Inknan 


Enkoin 

Ung koin. 

Cigar 



* 


Engmohay. 

Cloth . 

Do. strip of 

Clouds 

Lhoe 

Lanoa 



. 

Gal ah ay a 


Coat 

Cocoanut ... 

Chanlo 

Hoat 

Gnhuat 


Gnoatt 

Gnoat. 

Do. green 

Gninoo 


Jenong 

Njaoo 


Do. tree 



. 

Oocejaoo 

Ohnahut. 

Cock 




Kamooe-koep 


Cold . 



. 

Kaay 


Coral Chalk 



. 

Shonn 


Darknees 




Doochool 


Daughter ... 



. 

Karnoom-anyana 


Day 



. 

Heng 


Daylight 

Dead 

Tensagi 

Lhaha 

. . , . , 


Kapa 


Devil 

Hivi 

Hivee 


Ee\ve<$ 


Distant 




Hoee 



♦ 


Portuguese Pan. 


f Malay. 






























































































































































































( *57 ) 

Vocabulary of the Language spoken in the Central Nicobar Islands —contcT. 


English. 

Fontana, 1795. 

Barbe, 1846. 

Rink, 1862. 

Novara, 1862. 

Man, 1869. 

Doctor 




Manlooena 


Dog . 

Ham 



Ahm 

Am. 

Dollar 

Para 





Ear 

Nann 

Nan 


Neng 

Nang. 

Earrings 




Itiei 


Earth 




Oal-mattai 


East 




Hash-fooly 

. 

Ebb (tide) ... 




Tchoh 


Egg . 

Ohia 



Hooeja 

Ooyah. 

Elbow 





Ingon Koyang, 

Enough 

Pisi 





Evening 

Sciasin 



Ladiaya 

Hatam. 

Eye 

Holmat 

Olmat 


Oal-mat 

Ereemati. 

Eye-brows .... 




Ok-mat 

Okmat. 

Eye-lash 





Kut fight. 

Face 




Matschaka 


Farewell ... 

Kalakala-younde 





Father 

Chia 





Feather 




Anet-layeebery 


Finger 

Kinitay 



Kani-tai 


Fire 

Hcnoe 

Hahoha 


Hioye 

Eeohay. 

Fish 

Clia 



Gah 

Kah. 

Flesh 




Okaooha 


Flint . 




Hindel 


Flood 




Hayjaoo 


Flute 

Fly 




Hinhell 

Jooay 


Foot 


Huphala 


Lai 


Forehead ... 

Lai 

Lail 


Lai 


Fowl 

Friend 

Girl 


Vi ah 


Jol 

Komoy. 

Gold . 

Emloum 




• • * * 

Good 

Lapoa 



Lapow 


Grandfather 

Croum 





Grass 




Oobjdoab- 

Sin. 


3a 


























































































































































( Z(i 8 ) 

Vocabulary of ihe Language spoken in Hie Central Nicobar Islands contJ. 


English. 

Montana, 1795. 

Barhe, 1846. 

Rink, 1862. 

Novara, 1862. 

Man, 1809:. 

Great ... 

Charou 





Green 

Gun 




Tcliongoa 

Endil. 

Hair 

Enchojon 

Inkoi 

/ 

Jogh 

Yoo-ock. 

Hand 

Kinitay 

Kanathoi 


Oktai 

Kaneetay. 

Handkerchief* 

Lenzo 





Hat* . 

Cliapeo 





Hatchet 




En loin 


Head 

Choi 

Koi 

Coa 

Gdeh 

Kooee. 

Headache ... 





Chiak Koey.. 

Heart 




Kioyea 


Heaven 




Oal, galahaja 


Hen 

Tassoach 


• « • 

Kon-Kamooe 


Here ... 





Eeta. 

Hill . 




Kohinjuan 


Hog 

Not 

• *• •<« 


. 


House 

Gni 

Hnee 

Nji 

Njee 

Nee. 

Iron - 

Caran 



Ivadao 


Island 




Poolgna 


Jar 




•••.•• 

Oorat. 

Kettle 




Poonliagna 


Knee ... 

Colcanon 



Kohdnoang 

Kokanany. 

Knife 

Ilcnathoa 


Moah 

Kalianap 

Innoctte. 

Key 




Tenooan' 


Lad • *« •»• 




Iluh 


Land ... 




Oal Mattai 


Large ... 

«*•••« 



Kadoo 


Lead ••• ••• 

Luvtt 





Leaf 

.. . 


. 

Da-unjeeha 


Leg . 

Hanllan 

Anlinan 



Lali. 

Lemon 

Carrova 





Lightning ... 




Mait 


Lime 

Cion 





Lps 

Manonge 

Mahnoey 





* Of Portuguese origin. 
























































































































































( 259 ) 

Vocabulary of the Language spoken in the Central Nicobar Islands —eontti, 


English. 

Font fen a, 1795. 

Barbe, 1846. 

Rink, 1847. 

Novara, 1862. 

Man, 1869. 

Little 


• • • 





Ompein. 

Living 

it * 

• • i 




Ahn 


Man 

in 


Encognee 

Inconhay 

Baju 

Bhaju 

Engkoiu. 

Do. old 

• • • 

• i • 




Angonje 


Do. young 

• •• 


Maial 



• Mill 

Medicine 


• •• 

Danon 




•H||| 

Moon 


• •• 

Chae 

Khaha 


Kahae 

Kahair. 

More 

hi 

• •• 





Pelarie. 

Morning 

• •• 

• •• 




Hag6e 

Heing Hakio 

Mosquito 

• * • 

• •• 




Mrhoja 


Mother 

• • • 

in 

Chia Encliana 



Schia Angdna 


Mouth 

in 

• t • 




Manoing 

Elefuan. 

Much 

• •• 

• • • 




Ootohatche 


Musket 

• * • 

• • • 

Hendel 





Nail 

in 


Ciscoa 



Kaischua 


Name 

• •• 

in 



• •Im 

Lermay 


Navel 

• •• 

in 

Foun 


'•••mi 

Fon 


5SFe* r 

• ■ • 

iii 




Meayhoa 


Neck 

• • • 

in 

Halikolala 

Kolalah 


Unlonga 


Needle 

in 

• • • 

Needle 





Nest 

i«i 

• i • 


•••*•• 




Night 

in 

• i. 

Hataliom 



Hatam 


No 

• • i 

• •• 

At-chiou 


'••III! 

Ooat 


Noon 

• •• 

• •• 

Kamhen 



IIIMI 

i-i • • • • 

North 

• ii 

• •• 




Hash-kapa 


Nose 

in 

• • • 

Moha 

Moi 


Moah 

Moahn. 







Boomooashe 

1 

Old 

• •I 

• •• 




■and Ootniaha 

J . 

Palm-wine ... 

• •• 




Doagh 








Larohm 

Lagomb. 

Pandanus 

• •• 

• •• 












Laeeberi 

'•••in 

Paper ... 

ill 

• • • 






Parrot ... 

• i • 

• • • 

Cattoch 



Katok 








Not 

Gnot. 

Pig (hog) 

• •• 

• • • 

Not 












Soodoo. 

Pine-apple 

... 



• i ••• 



Pipe ... 

in 

• •• 

Tanop 











Tanop. 


Pipe (whistle) 





— - 

















































































































































( 200 ) 

Vocabulary of the Language spoken in the Central Nicobar Islands could. 


English. 

Fontana, 1746. 

Barbe, 1846. 

Rink, 1847. 

Novara, 1862. 

Man, 1869. 

Plantain . 



Hibuga 


Heeboo. 

Pretty. 




Lapoa. 


Rain . 

Rattan . 

Pantan 

• ••••*» 

• •• • • 

Ama . 

Amee. 

Red ... . 

Chunla 



All 


Red Coral . 





Iang mary. 

Rice . 


Aroos 




River . 




Hiajarak 


Rudder . 




(Deunde ") 

(Dol deua 5 


Sand. 




Pbe bt 


Sea 


Kahmala 

Kamamla 

Oal-kamaleh 

Komalei. 

Ship . 



Tjiong 


Cheong. 

-(large) . 





Lagam. 

Shirt . 

Clianlo 



• • • • • 


Shoes . 

Dhanapola 



Zapatos* 


Shot. 




Hadeel 


Shoulders . 

Eckait 





Sick . 

Tohon 





Skin . 




Ihe 


Small. 

Mombeschi 


Humbartsja 

Paeetya 


Snake . 




Toolan 


Sole (of foot). 





Ollah. 

Son ••• ••• ••• 

Covon 

• • » ’* • 




South 




H ash-1 dhhna 


Star 


Lomalay 


Shokmaleicha 


Stone 



Manga 

Mangdh 

Mangeh. 

Stockings ... 

Han ho-lola 





Striped cloths 

Cambalamagn 

. 




Strong 

Koan 

•••••• 


Koang 


Summer ... 


. 



Kol Kapa (N. E. 

Sun 

Hen 

Han 


Heng 

Monsoon.) 

Alakei. 

Table 

Cherdchh 





Teeth 


Kanap 


Kandp 

Kanap. 

There 





Matareo. 

Thigh ... 

Poto 

Bhoolo 


Boolo 

Buloh. 


* Corruption of Portuguese, 
































































































































































( 261 ) 

Vocabulary of the Language spoken in the Central Nicobar Islands —contd. 


English. 

Fontana, 1795. 

Barbe, 1816. 

Rink, 1817. 

Novara, 1862. 

Man, 1869. 

Throat 




Ungnoka 

Kolalla. 

Thunder ... 




Koomtoogna 


Tipsy 




9 

Ooy ooay. 

Tobacco 




Oomhoi 


To-day 




Lenheng 


Toe . 



. { 

Kanech-lah, ok 
lah 

} . 

To-morrow 

Holactas 



Hakayee 


Tongue 

Calcta 

Kealatat 

•••••• 

Kaletag 

Kalelak, 

Tortoise-shell 

Cap 





Tree 




Koy-uujeeha 


Ugly 




Jooh 


Uncle 

Ochia 





Valley 




Alhoda 


Village 




Mattai 


Voyage 




Johatayha 


Wabbior ... 






Water 

(Dheah and ) 

( Onejo j 

Rak 


Dak 

Dak. 

Warm 




Keeojan 


Weak . 

At loan 





Weapon 




H indell 


West 

. 



Hash-sohang 


White . 

Unat 



Tenjeea 


White man 



. { 

Bajo-tatenn ha- 
matt 

1 . 

Wife . 

Cance 

Incam 

Ml 


Kan. 

Wind . 

Hdyi 



Hash 

Hamir. 

Wing . 


. 


Danowen 


Winter 





( Sohong S. W. 

( Monsoon. 

Woman 

Encana 

Ungcan 

Angana 

Angana 

Engkana. 

Wood 




Oondeet 


Yellow ... 




Laaom 


Yellow man, e.g., Malay 




Kolog-hamatt 


YgS ••• • ••• 

Jo 



Aon 


Yesterday ... 

Menzovi 



Mandioj 


Young 




Eelooh 










































































































































( 262 ) 

Vocaknlaty of the Language spoken in the Central Nicobar Islands —eontd. 


English. 

Fontana, 1795. 

Barbe, 1846. 

Rink, 1847. 

Novara, 1862. 

Man, 1869. 





NUMERALS. 




1 


aaa 

Hean 

Hmg 

Hang 

Hayang 

Hairu. 

2 

• • • 

aaa 

Haa 

Hahoo 

Ah 

Ah 

Engh. 

3 

• •• 

aaa 

Loe 

Looha 

Loa 

Loeh 

Sooay. 

4 

Ml 

aaa 

Toan 

Fuan 

Foan 

Fooan 

Fuan. 

5 

• t • 

aaa 

Tanee 

Than in 

Tanein 

Tanayee 

Tanai. 

6 

«M 

aaa 

Tafoul 

Thafool 

Tafuet 

Tafoodl 

Tafoual. 

V 

Ml 

aaa 

Isat 

Haldat 

Isat 

Ishiatt 

Eesat. 

8 

• • • 

aaa 

Ensoan 

Infuan 

Onfuan 

Oenfoan 

Engfuan. 

9 

Ml 

aaa 

Eancata 

Inhatta 

Hanghata 

Hayanghata 

Hairughata. 

10 

Ml 

aaa 

Sicom 

Lam 

Sam 

Som 

Seomb. 

11 

• • I 

aaa 

Sicom hean 


Sam hceng 

Som-hayang 

Seombhairu, 

12 

III 

aaa 

Sicom Haa 


Sam ha 

Somah 


20 

Ml 

aaa 

Hemomthouma 

Hingian 

. { 

Heng-oomtcho- 

ma 

) Hairutuan 
f hairu. 

30 

• I 1 

aaa 

Rocate 

Loohagian 

. { 

Heng-oomtcho- 
ma toklay 

) Hairutuan 

J maluay. 

40 

• • t 

aaa 

Toan moan 

thiuma. 

} . 

. { 

Ahm oomtcho- 
ma 

} . 

50 

• t • 

aaa 



. { 

Ahm oomtcho- 
ma toklay 

} . 

100 

• « I 

aaa 

Sicom-Sicom 

PRONOUNS. 

. { 

Som oomtcho- 
ma 

i . 

) 

I ... 

ttt 

aaa 

Thiou 


Kji 

Teeoa 


Thou 

• • a 

aaa 

Mhihe 


Ma 

Mooayh 


He 

a a a 

aaa 




Ahn 

Aney. 

We 

aai 

aaa 




Teeoe 


Ye or you 

• a a 

aat 



. { 

Eefoe 

Eefoe-bajoo 

} . 

They 

a a a 

aaa 




Oomtohm 


Mine 

a a a 

a a a 



Tsang kji 


. 

Thine 

aal 

a a a 



Tsang ma 



This 

a a a 

aaa 




Neeae Ne&ia 


That 

aaa 

a a a 




Anaay 


Who 

aat 

aaa 




Teh^e 






VERBS. 


- 


To buy 

aai 

aaa 

Hacaou 





„ come 

Ml 

#aa 


Kathara 


Kaaytery 

Katre. 

„ dance 

aaa 

aaa 

Hanan 



Kataoga 


„ drink 

aaa 

aaa 

Peoum 

Phim 


Taoop 

Top. 

































































































( '263 ) 

r ocabulary of tie Language spoken in the Central Nicobar Islands —con chi. 


English. 


Fontana, 1795. 

liarbc, 1848i 

Rink, 1847. 

Novara, 1862, 

Man, 1869. 

To eat 


Hanino 

VERBS— contd. 

Hookgnok 

Ungha 

Naok 

Eugokk. 

„ give 


. 




Tangnya-samay. 

go 

... 


Ahochoo 

Uushonga 

Tchoo 

Eetakke. 

„ have 

... 





Ought. 

„ kill ... 

... 




Oorree 


„ hiugh ... 

... 




Itee 


„ lay down 

... 

Laam 





„ light ... 

... 

Ajouhy 




, , 

„ love 

... 




Soojonghien 


„ rain, 

... 

Hamc 

. 




„ run 





Deeann 


„ row 


Duonde 





„ see 

... 



. 1 

Hadah 

Oog hadah 

} . 

„ sell 

... 

Henvlej 





„ sing 





Aekasha 


„ sleep 

... 

Etaja 



Eetayak 


„ smoke ... 


Pheumboj 





„ speak 

... 

Hiclicackeri 



Olloula 


„ stand 


Aehicienga 



Ock shecaga 


„ walk 


Hansciounga 





„ weep 

... ■ 

Houm 



Tecom 


„ write 


Athe hot 





„ yawn 





Moongwap 



Come hither ... 

M* 

SENTENCES.. 

. Hanehiatena 

... 

... Fontana. 

Where do you go to ? 

... 

. Foot kjun ma 

... 

...A 

I go on board the ship 

... 

... lM Foot jo tol tjiong ... 

... 

... > Rink. 

I remain here . 


. Jo katog ita 

... 

...) 

Who is he ? . 

... 

. Tchick ahn . 

... 

... Novara. 

Have you a shell ? . 

... 

. Orten hangci 

... 

... Man. 





















































































































( 264 ) 


Official correspondence ultimately leading to possession being taken 
of the Nicobars by Her Majesty’s Indian Government. 


From Commodore G. E. Lambert, r. n., in charge of the Indian Division 
of the India and China Station, to the Secretary to the Government of 
India , Foreign Degpt., — No. 799, dated 28 th February 1852. 


I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of the Go- 
* Marked A vernment of India, that having received from 

the Commissioner at Moulmein the accom¬ 
panying statement* of alleged piracy and murder committed on two Bri¬ 
tish vessels at the Nicobar Islands, I have despatched the Tenasserim 

Marked B reseue the remaining crew, agreeably to 

the enclosed instructions,! as I am unable 
at present to spare one of Her Majesty's ships to perform this service. 


A. 

Fnclosure to Commodore Lambert's letter, dated 28 th February 1852. 

Copy of a paper received from Lieutenant-Colonel Bogle, Com¬ 
missioner, Tenasserim Provinces, on the 25th of February 1852. 


From H. Hopkinson, Esq., Principal Assistant to the Commissioner , 

Tenasserim Provinces, to Lieut.-Col. A. Bogle, Commissioner , 

Tenasserim Provinces, — No. 799, dated 23 rd February 1852. 

In obedience to your instructions, I have the honor herewith to 
forward a copy of the statement made before me by Kaleefah Sahib 
Malim and Master of the Brig Safreena . 

2. The narrative is, as you will observe, purely matter of hearsay, 
derived from a third party, Soobrailoo, now the inmate of an insane 
hospital; but we have the most positive assurances of the Malim, that 
it was communicated to him when Soobrailoo was in full possession 
of his senses, and that he manifested no* symptoms of insanity until 
thirty-five days after he had been on board the Safreena, so that there 
was ample time to obtain the details that have been given us. 

3. I have sufficient confidence in Kaleefah to believe that he has 
not been guilty of any intentional exaggeration, and that he has related 
the story as he got it from Soobrailoo ; but what degree of credit can 
be given to Soobrailoo himself is another question. I would observe 
only, that an account so coherent and so detailed is likely to be beyond 
his powers of invention, and can hardly be ascribed to the working of 
a crazed imagination. 





Statement of Malim Sahib, son of Kaleefah Sahib Malim, of Nag ore, by 
occupation a Merchant and Master of the Brig Safreena now lying 
in the Port of Moulmein , taken before me, Henry Hopkinson, Esq., 
Principal Assistant to the Commissioner in the Tenasserim Provinces, 
this 13 th day of February 1852, who saith — 

“ I sailed from Nagore in the month of August last to Veemeely Patna 
thence to Penang, and from Penang* I came on to Nancowry Island, 
arriving in all November. I got as many cocoanuts as I could at Nan- 
cowry Island and filled up with more at Car-Nicobar, where I remained 
up to about the 20th December. From Car-Nicobar I was driven by 
stress of weather with the loss of all my sails to Junk Ceylon ; I had to 
stop and refit there and take in provisions, and did not leave till the 20th 
January last when I came on here. One morning, about 2 a. m., while 
lying off Nancowry, and about thirteen days after my arrival, there 
came along side the ship a man on a log of wood; I lowered a boat and 
picked him up. He appeared much exhausted and could only tell me at 
first that his name was Soobrailoo, and that he was a Coringee; he 
was however in full possession of his senses, and he soon recovered strength 
sufficient to relate his story. He said that he was one of a crew of 45 
men belonging to a Coringee craft which had come from Singapore 
to Nancowry to load with cocoanuts, but before the cargo could be 
completed she was one day surrounded by a number of armed boats, 
whose crew boarded and carried her, and put all the people to death with 
the exception of nine, of whom the narrator was one, and who escaped 
by hiding themselves in a water tank. When night fell they endeavoured 
to swim on shore; four were drowned, but the other five managed to reach 
the land. They soon however got separated in the jungle. Soobrailoo 
wandered about some time, but at last was captured by the islanders 
who kept him prisoner. He managed at last to bite through his 
cords and so got free from them, and gained my ship on a log as I 
have mentioned ; Soobrailoo told me his vessePs name, but it was a long 
Coringee word, and I have forgotten it; she was lying off the south¬ 
ern side of the Island of Carmorta, about the middle of the island, and 
perhaps half a mde from the shore, when she was attacked ; the savages 
sank her, and Soobrailoo pointed out to me her mast still remaining 
above the water. Soobrailoo was assuredly quite sane when he came 
on board us, and for thirty or thirty-five days subsequently. I do 
not know what then turned his brain, but he has been mad since. 
Soobrailoo told me that his was not the only ship that had been attacked 
by the natives of Nancowry, for, after he had been about a month on 
shore, an English barque came into the harbour formed by the islands 
of Nancowry, Carmorta and Tnnkuttee, and anclioied there foi four o 
five days; a number of boats, more and more every day, went off to 
her. At last one day Soobrailoo saw her settle down and sink. Her 
long-boat came on shore full of Nancowry men; they brought with 
them an European lady and her child, a little thing not two years 
old. For four days the poor lady was the victim of their brutal 
abuse, when death put an end to her sufferings, and she was no sooner 
dead than they hacked the child to pieces with their knives. 

« Before he left the island Soobrailoo fell in with three men ; he 
found they were his countrymen, Coringees, and they proved to be 

V 



( £6 6 > 


f 


the remnant of the crew of the English barque; they told him that 
their vessel had been carried and scuttled by the savages, who had 
murdered the captain and his mate and two other Englishmen (passen¬ 
gers it is presumed), and after plundering the vessel had brought the 
captain’s wife and his infant daughter away in the long-boat. They 
could not- tell the name of the barque, but she was from Calcutta, 
with a lascar crew they had shipped themselves; the vessel had come 
to the Nicobars for a cargo of cocoanuts; she had on board of her 
eight bullocks, twelve goats, a small quantity of piece-goods, some casks 
of brandy, and several bags of money in rupees. I managed to escape 
the fate of these ships as I knew beforehand the character of the men 
I had to deal with; I kept well out in the offing in fifteen fathoms 
water, and was very careful not to allow more than one boat at a time to 
be alongside of me; and as soon as I had discharged one boat of her 
cocoanuts I made her go well away before I suffered another boat to 
approach. Soobrailoo was upwards of two months and a half ashore, and 
this affair of the English barque took place about a month and a half 
before my coming.” 

(True copy) 

(Sd.) H. Hopkinson, 

Principal Assi. to Commr., Tenasserim Provinces 


33. 

Enclosure to Commodore Lambert's letter dated 18 th Febuary 1852'. 


ORDER by Commodore G. K. Lambert, r. n., in charge of the Indian 

Division of the India and China Stations, to Captain W. Dicey, 

commanding the Hon’ble Co.’s Steam Vessel-of-war Tenasserim. 

You are hereby required and directed to put to sea in .the steam 
vessel you command, and to proceed with all possible expedition to the 
Islands of Nancowry, Trinkuttee, and Carmorta, of the Nicobar group, 
where you will ascertain if there is any truth to be attached to the 
statement made to the Master of the Brig Safreena, by a man 
named Soobrailoo, of piracy and murder committed by the natives on 
an English barque and a vessel belonging to Coringa, the particulars of 
which are detailed in the enclosure which I received yesterday from the 
Commissioner of the Tenasserim Provinces. 

2. Should such be the case, you will rescue the remaining crew 
of these unfortunate vessels if any are still in captivity. 

3. You are then to make the best of your way to Calcutta, so as to 
arrive there by the 15th March, at which time the Government of India 
will require the Tenasserim for particular service. 

4. You will fully report to me your proceedings herein ; and deliver 
to the Superintendent of Marine a duplicate of the letter you address to* 
me, together with the copy of the statement made by Soobrailoo. 




( 267 ) 


Given on b<&rd Her Majesty's Ship Fox in the Rangoon riveft 
dated 26th February 1852. 


From J. W. Dalrymple, Esq., Officiating Secretary to the Government of 
India, Foreign Department, to Commodore G. R. Lambert, r. n., in 
charge of the Indian Division of the India and China Stations ,— 
No. 583, dated 13 th March 1852. 

I have received and laid before the Most Noble the Governor Gene- 
ral in Council your letter of the 28th ultimo, and its enclosures, relative 
to an alleged piracy and murder committed on two British vessels at the 
Nicobar Islands, and am directed in reply to convey to you the approval 
by His Lordship in Council of the measures adopted by you for the 
rescue of the surviving crew of those vessels. 


From Captain T. E. Rogers, Superintendent of Marine, to the Most 
Noble the Marquis of Dalhousie, Governor of Bengal, fyc .,— 
No. 1351, dated 13 th March 1852. 


I have the honor to submit, in original, for the consideration of 

Government, the papers noted in the margin, 
being an official correspondence, and the 
report of the Commander of the Hon'ble Co.'s 
Steamer Tenasserim of his proceeding’s at the 
Nicobar Islands, to which he was despatched 
by Commodore Lambert, to ascertain whe¬ 
ther the statements that had reached the 
Commissioner of vessels having been cut off 
and their crew murdered by some of the 
islanders were well founded. I am sorry to 
find from Captain Dicey's report that there 
is no reason to doubt that the horrid crimes 
referred to have been committed. 


Letter from Capt. W. Dicey, 
■Commander, Steamer Tenas¬ 
serim, dated 12th instant. 

Copy of a letter from the 
Principal Assistant Commis¬ 
sioner, Tenasserim Provinces, to 
the Commissioner, Tenasserim 
Provinces, No. 799, dated 23rd 
February 1852. 

Copy of a letter from Commo¬ 
dore Lambert, e. ir., dated 26th 
February 1852, to the Com¬ 
mander, Steamer Tenasserim. 

Copy of a letter from the 
Commander, Steamer Tenasse¬ 
rim, to Commodore Lambert, 
E. N., dated 11th March 1852. 

List of articles recovered 
from the villages on the Islands 
of Carmorta and Nancowry. 


2. I have retained a copy of the list of 
articles which Captain Dicey got possession 
of at the island, and I propose to advertise 
the whole, both here and at Madras and 
Bombay, and to have the Teloogoo log translated. Possibly by these 
means we may ascertain the. names of the lost vessels and the ports they 
belonged to. 

3. I beg to recpiest the return of the papers now submitted when 
they are no longer required. 


From Captain W. Dicey, Commanding the Iloidhie Cods Steam Vessel - 
of-ivar Tenasserim, to Jas. Sutherland, Esq., Secretary to the 
Superintendent of Marine,—dated the 12 th March 1852. 

By desire of Commodore G. R. Lambert I have the honor to 
forward, for the information of the Superintendent of Marine, the 





0 


( *268 ) 


accompanying’ duplicate report of my visit in the steamer under my 
command to the Nicobar Islands in search of intelligence respecting some 
vessels that are said to have been cut off by the natives of these islands. 


(Duplicate.) 

From Captain W. Dicey, Commanding the Hon’ble Co.’s Steamer Tenas- 

serim, to Commodore Gf. R. Lambert, r. n., in charge of the Indian 

Division of the Fast India and China Stations,—dated 1 \th March 

1852. 

In compliance with your orders, dated 26th ultimo, I have the 
honor to inform you that I proceeded with the vessel under my com¬ 
mand with all possible expedition to the Nicobar Islands, where we 
arrived on the morning of the 4tli instant, making the north end of 
Carmorta. Sent a boat to examine the villages and get information from 
a native vessel lying between the Islands Carmorta and Trinkuttee 
(through which there was no passage for the steamer). 

I proceeded round Trinkuttee Island and entered Nancowry Har¬ 
bour by the eastern entrance, and anchored at 11 a. m. of the above date 
in the middle of the harbour, where we remained three days, sending 
all our boats to the different villages situated on the coast of the three 
Islands Trinkuttee, Nancowry, and Carmorta for intelligence; as the 
boats approached the villages the natives generally disappeared in the 
jungles, taking everything with them from their huts. 

The 1st cutter, when near the Barque Summud Ally (the native 
vessel above alluded to), took a canoe in which was a Malay dressed in 
European clothes. He was brought on board and examined, but denied 
any knowledge of the vessels said to be cut off. He was very uneasy 
at being on board, and professed at first not to understand any language 
but Nicobar; but it came out at last that he could speak English, 
Portuguese and Malay, and was evidently a leading man amongst the 
islanders. 

I ottered him large bribes to induce him to give me some informa¬ 
tion respecting the vessels said to be cut off or their crews, and I 
threatened him without effect, but was obliged to send him back to his 
village, as nothing could be got out of him. I heard afterwards from the 
natives that he was the leader or principal in the piracies that have been 
committed here. 

Two of the principal men of village Eng-you-ong, situated on the 
north-east side of Nancowry, voluntarily came on board in one of our 
boats, and stated that three vessels had lately been cut off by the people 
of the north-east end of Carmorta,—two native vessels of which they could 
give us no particulars, and the other an European vessel manned by natives 
with European oihcer and commander, and having on board two black 
women, and one white woman and child ; that they were all murdered 
on board, with the exception of a few of the crew who escaped on shore, 
and the white woman and child had been taken on shore alive but died 
shortly after. 



( 269 ) 


These two men accompanied us in the boats to point out the spot 
where the European vessel had been sunk, where we found 15 fathoms 
water, the entrance of Nancowry Harbour bearing* E, by S. of Trin- 
kuttee distant three miles. There being a strong breeze at the time, 
we could not make out anything under water ; but the natives told us 
that on a calm day they could see the vessel, as the water was very clear. 

It appears by their statement that the vessel was taken whilst in 
the harbour, and afterwards removed by them into deep water outside 
and then scuttled. 

The reason of these men giving us this information I attribute to 
their being at enmity with the men in Carmorta; for when they were in 
our boats visiting the villages, they appeared particularly anxious to 
avoid coming near the men on the opposite island for fear of being 
attacked. 

In searching the villages for three days we picked up several articles, 
as mentioned in the accompanying list, apparently belonging to vessels 
that had been taken by the natives, as they are things they would not 
buy, and are not likely to have been sold or given away by the 
possessors of them. The log book of a native vessel will, I have no 
doubt, give some clue to the name of the vessel when translated ; it 
appears to be written in the Madras language. The English books, I 
should think, have been taken from an English vessel; the name of 
John Martin appears on the leaf of one of them, and W. Palmer on one 
of the other books; the former appears to be stained with blood. 

On our return from Nancowry we passed close to the Island of 
Terressa, when several canoes came off to the steamer from the village of 
Lackseen without the slightest hesitation, and without our anchoring, 
showing they had nothing to fear; so different from the natives of 
Carmorta, who escaped into the jungles immediately our boats made their 
appearance. 

These men from Terressa confirmed the statement made by the two 
natives respecting the vessels being cut off by the men from the north¬ 
east end of Carmorta. 

Without telling them our object of visiting the islands, they at 
once said two or three vessels had been taken in Nancowry Harbour, and 
the crews murdered. 

I think it probable, that had I more time to remain in the vicinity 
of the islands, I should have gained further information, but in 
accordance with your instructions to be back in Calcutta by the 15th, 
and being doubtful whether I should have sufficient coal to bring me 
back without touching at some port for a supply, I thought it advisable 
to leave when I did. 

I have no hesitation in my own mind in saying that two or more 
vessels have been cut off at these islands within the last few months, 
making a fearful catalogue of vessels that have been destroyed and their 
crews murdered within the last ten or twelve years by these pirates, who 
murder all belonging to the vessels taken to prevent detection. 


In leaving Nancowry Harbour, we came out by tbe western passage, 
Which I found to be very narrow and not safe, I should think, for a 
sailing vessel to attempt, but in a steamer all the channels are safe, 
and the water smooth and pleasant sailing. 

I received great assistance from Captain H. Lewis (a passenger on 
board) who was well acquainted with all the islands and channels of this 
group of islands, and from his long intercourse with the natives, he 
appears to thoroughly understand them and their habits. 


List of Articles recovered from the villages on the Islands of Carmorta 

and Nancowry. 

Log Book written in the Telegoo language. 

Copy of the Koran. 

Hors burgh’s Directory, old. 

Old book “ Scottish Chiefs.” 

Ditto “ The Coquette,” or “ History of Eliza Wharton,” with name, 
W. Palmer, 22nd May 1836, written on leaf. 

Ditto “ The young man from Home,” name, John Martin on leaf* 
Chart of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by Nome. 

A lace scarf. 

Seal, with accompanying wax impression and motto. 

German-silver fork and spoon. 

Spindle of a capstan. 

Devil’s claw. 

Piece of kentledge. 

Ship’s cutlass. 

Two gun-carriage trucks. 

Double block with iron sheaves. 

Some copper nails with small pieces of copper, apparently taken from a 
vessel’s bottom. 

Chimney of an argand lamp. 

Boat’s wooden yoke. 

Box containing cotton handkerchiefs. 

Twelve spears. 

Hammer and file. 

Ship’s bucket. 

Three China pictures. 

One French picture. 

//. Co’s Steamer Tenasserim. 

The 11 th March 1852. 


W. Dicey, 
Comdg . 


From J. P. Grant, Esq., Secy, to the Govt, of Bengal, to Captain 
T. E. Rogers, Superintendent of Marine ,— No. 215, dated 18 th 
March 1852. 

I am directed by the Most Noble the Governor of Bengal to acknow¬ 
ledge the receipt of your letter No. 1351, dated the 13th instant, 
submitting a report from Captain Dicey, the Commander of the HoiFble 
Co.’s Steamer Tenasserim , showing the result of his visit to the Nicobar 
Islands. 


* This book appears stained with blood. 







( 271 ) 

% 

2. You are authorized to advertise the list of articles which 
ap am Dicey picked up in the Islands of Carmorta and Nancowry in 

tiie manner proposed by you, and also to have a translation made of the 
ielegoo log. 

3. The original papers which accompanied your letter are here* 
with returned. 


Extract of a letter from Captain Henry Hopkinson, Commr. of Arra- 
can, to the Secy, to the Govt, of Bengal ,— No. 18. dated 8th Febru¬ 
ary 1865. 

Para. 12. Any project for the re-occupation of the Andamans should 
also comprehend arrangements for exercising from them a surveillance 
over the neighbouring group of the Nicobars. Those islands have 
acquired a horrid notoriety of late years for the murderous piracies 
committed by their inhabitants. An interesting article on the subject 
appeared in the columns of the Englishman newspaper under date 
the 4th of January of this year, the writer, however, gives no later 
instance than 1848, but it will be within the memory of Government 
that, on information submitted to it in 1852, Captain Dicey of the 
Steamer Tenasserim was despatched to the Nicobars, and that his 
report left no doubt that two vessels, one of them English, had been 
recently destroyed, and their crews murdered by the natives. This, if 
I remember right, was at Carmorta, and one of the victims was an 
English woman, who, with her child, was put to death under circum¬ 
stances of the most shocking atrocity. It would be well if these islands 
could be reduced to our authority, and if the establishment of a penal 
settlement were the only consideration, they would probably answer as 
well for that purpose as the Andamans. 


From W. Grey, Esq., Secy to the Govt, of Bengal , to the Secy, to 
the Govt, of India , Foreign Dept., — No. 96, dated 29th 
February 1856. 

I am directed by the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal to acknow¬ 
ledge the receipt of Mr. Officiating Secretary Dalrymple^s letter 
No. 4152, dated the 28th November last, regarding the outrages com¬ 
mitted by the inhabitants of the Andaman Islands on shipwrecked 
seamen, and requesting the suggestions of the Lieutenant-Governor as 
to the measures he would propose for the protection of such British 
subjects as may unfortunately be cast away on those islands. 

2. In reply I am now directed to transmit the accompanying copy 
of a letter from the Commissioner of Arracan, No. 18 of the 8th instant, 
which appears to the Lieutenant-Governor to embody some very valuable 
suggestions on the subject. 

3. It is obviously Captain Hopkinsoffis opinion that not only the 
Andamans but also the Nicobars should be occupied and brought under 
our Government. He would do this gradually, using the establishment 
of a penal colony on the west or south-west side as a first step to a com¬ 
plete occupation. 




( 272 ) 


4. In this opinion the Lieutenant-Governor, I am directed to say, 
entirely concurs. For the purpose which is mainly in view in the re¬ 
agitation of this question, the mere establishment of a penal colony at one 
extremity oP one island would be inadequate, nor would anything short 
of entire domination prevent the evils which now occur from the savage 
and unbridled ferocity of the present inhabitants ! On the other hand, 
there is good reason to suppose that the occupation of these islands 
would bring many positive advantages, while their supposed unhealthi¬ 
ness would probably not be found more lasting than that of the coast 
and islands of Arracan. 


From J. W. S. Wyllie, Esq., Offg. Secy, to the Govt, of India , Foreign 

Dept., to the Hon^ble A. E. H. Anson, Lieutenant-Governor of the 

Straits Settlements ,— No. 25, dated 1th January 1867. 

With reference to the case of piracy and murder at the Nicobar 
Islands which appears in your Proceedings for the month of October 
last under entries Nos. 30 and 31, I am directed by the Right Hom’ble 
the Governor General in Council to request that you will forward, for 
the information of the Government of India, a copy of the depositions 
taken in the Court of the Police Magistrate at Penang. 

2. His Excellency in Council would also desire to be furnished 
with an expression of your opinion on the case, particularly as regards 
the amount of credit to be attached to the statements made by the 
deponents. 

3. It is certainly very advisable that the piratical practices of 
the Nicobar Islanders should not pass unchecked; but as the Go¬ 
vernment of India hardly understands what the despatch of a ship of 
war can be expected to effect against savages, who on its appearance 
will immediately retreat to the jungles of the interior, I am to request 
that you will submit, for the consideration of the Government, any 
plan which may occur to you as better calculated to secure the object 
in view. 

4. Such communication as the Government of India has hitherto 
had with the Nicobar Islands has been almost entirely carried on through 
the officers of the Burmah Commission. The Chief Commissioner of 
that Province, therefore, as well as yourself, has been called on for an 
opinion on the point, and in order to enable him to understand the 
circumstances of the particular case which has now re-directed the 
attention of the Government to these islands, the Governor General 
in Council desires that you will forward a copy of the depositions direct 
to Colonel Phayre also. 

5. I beg to enclose, for your information, extract from a Note 
compiled in the Foreign Office in 1856, which contains almost all the 
information the Government of India possesses regarding the Nicobar 
Islands and their inhabitants. 




{ 273 ) 


From J. W. S. Wyllie, Esq., Offg. Secy, to the Govt, of India, Foreign 

Department, to Colonel Pkayre, Chief Commr., British Burmah,-— 

No. 26, dated the 7th January 1867. 

"W ith reference to the accompanying extract from the Abstract of 
the Proceedings of the Government of the Straits Settlements, I am 
directed to inform you that Colonel Cavanagh has been instructed to 
forward to you a copy of the depositions taken in the Police Court at 
Penang, and to request that, after you have perused the papers, you 
will favor the Government of India with an expression of your views 
both as to the amount of credit which you would attach to the deponents" 
statements, and also as to the arrangements which, in case the Govern¬ 
ment should determine to undertake some measures of chastisement 
against the Nicobar Islanders, might appear to you best calculated to 
secure a permanent repression of their piratical practices. 

2. The Governor General in Council is not satisfied that the mere 
despatch of a ship of war to the Nicobar Islands could have any satis¬ 
factory result. 

3. An extract from a Note compiled in the Foreign Office in 1856, 
containing nearly all the information which the Government of India 
has regarding these islands, is herewith forwarded for your infor¬ 
mation. 


From the Secy, to Govt., Straits Settlement, to the Secy, to the Govt, of 
India, Foreign Department ,— No. 5-117, dated the 23 rd January 1867. 


In acknowledging the receipt of your despatch No. 25, dated 7tli 

instant, I have the honor, by desire of His 
Honor the Governor, to forward herewith, for 
submission to His Excellency the Governor 
General in Council, copies of the letters 
noted on the margin, on the subject of the 
recent outrage committed upon the crew of a 
British vessel at the Island of Trinkuttee in the 
Nicobars. 


1. —Letter No. 495, dated 25tli 

October 1866 (with enclo¬ 
sures), from the Resident 
Councillor, Prince of Wales 
Island. 

2. —Letter No. 146, dated 5th 

March 1866, from Deputy 
Secretary to Government, 
Straits Settlements. 

3. —Letter No. 533, dated 23rd 

November 1866 (with en¬ 
closures), from the Resi¬ 
dent Councillor, Prince of 
Wales Island. 


2. As far as His Honor is capable of 
judging, there appears to be every reason to 
place general credence in the truth of the story 
related by the survivors of the crew of the 
Brio’ Futteh Islam : of course, it is possible that, in his desire to drive 
a o>ood bargain with the natives, the Nacodah of the brig may have 
attempted to overreach them, and thus afforded some slight provocation, 
which may have led to a dispute previous to the commencement of the 
wholesale slaughter; but the main features of the case will. His Honoi 
is inclined to believe, have been as the three men have described. 


3 There can be little doubt that if an outrage, such as the one 
above referred to, is allowed to pass unnoticed, the natives will become 
emboldened in their crime, and that the sacrifice of many lives may :>e 

35 



( 274 ) 


the result. At the same time, with the amount of information at present 
at his command, His Honor would feel extremely diffident in expressing 
any very decided opinion as to the proper course to pursue in order to obtain 
redress for the present massacre, and to afford due protection to our subjects 
for the future. However, he cannot but consider that the first step to 
be taken would be the despatch, to the scene of the outrage, of two 
British armed vessels, the Commander of the force being authorized 
to demand the surrender of the principal parties concerned in the late 
murder ; should his demand fail to be complied with, he would be instructed 
to place the island under blockade, at the same time seizing every 
opportunity of obtaining precise information as to its topography, the 
position of the different villages, the number and resources of the 
inhabitants, &c.; so that, with these details in its possession, it would be 
in the power of the Supreme Government to come to a decision as to the 
propriety of adopting one of the three following plans :— 

First .—To take possession of the island and establish on it a mili¬ 
tary post for the protection of trade. 

Second .—To organize a small expedition for the purpose of pene¬ 
trating into the interior and inflicting severe punishment upon the 
murderers by the destruction of their villages. 

Third .—To simply destroy such villages along the coast as might be 
reached by the fire of the cruisers or by small boat parties. 

In any case, it would certainly be advisable to make arrangements so 
as to ensure a visit to the island on the part of a man-of-war at least 
twice every year, so that the natives would not fail to understand that 
due retaliation would be required for any wrong inflicted upon a British 
subject. 

Fourth .—In accordance with the instructions conveyed in the 4th 
paragraph of your communication, copies of the depositions with regard 
to the attack on the Brig Futteh Islam will be forwarded direct to^the 
Chief Commissioner of British Burmah. 


From the Hon’ble Colonel H. Man, Resident Councillor, Prince of 
Wales Island, to the Secy, to Govt., Straits Settlements, Sinoavore — 
A o. 405, dated the 25 th October 1866. J F 9 

I HAVE the honor to forward, for submission to His Honor the 
Governor, some original depositions which have been taken before the 
Mar ne Magistrate regarding a barbarous outrage committed at the 
N.cobars on the crew of a Brig called the Futteh Islam, wherein 21 

persons are supposed to have been murdered, and whatever goods the 
vessel contained carried off. 


2. It is said that similar cases have 
locality. At any rate the present instance 
retribution. 


formerly occurred in this 
seems to demand a signal 



( 275 } 


From the Master Attendant, Prince of Wales Island, to the IIon^ble 

Colonel H. Man, Resident Councillor,—dated the 25 th October 1866. 

I have the honor to report for your information that the Brig* 
Futteh Islam, of this port, returned on Monday night last from the 
Nicobar Island, Trinkuttee, the whole of the crew, with the exception of 
three men, having been murdered there by the natives. 

She sailed from here on the 28th of August for Rangoon, touching 
at the Nicobars, as most native vessels do, to load cocoanuts for that 
port. It appears by the depositions of the three persons who brought 
the vessel back that there was no quarrel, nor any provocation whatever 
given ; that the natives of the island rose on them, and murdered the 
Nacodah and crew when they were quite off their guard, and had no 
suspicion whatever of any intended treachery on the part of the 
natives. 

The vessel had not much cargo on board; a few cases of piece-goods, 
some tobacco, a cask of rum, and some small articles, generally taken to 
the Nicobars to exchange for cocoanuts, was the principal part of her 
cargo. 

She had also on board, according to the Nacodah's report at the 
Import and Export Office on clearing out, Rs. 1,800, none of which, 
nor a particle of her outward cargo, excepting the cask of rum, was 
found on board on her arrival here. 

The kalashee, Shaik Doud, and the overseer of the cargo, Sultan, 
appear to be rather intelligent natives, but the cook-boy, Pakier, a lad 
of about 18 years of age, seems to be the contrary; they deserve great 
credit, however, for having brought the brig back to this port. 

The agent for the owner (who is now at Nagorej has taken charge 
of the vessel. 


P. S .—Trinkuttee is a small island connected with Nancorry (com¬ 
monly called Nancowry) and close to it, where vessels have been cut 
off in former days. 


Repositions taken before the Marine Magistrate of Penang,—dated 

23 rd October 1866. 

Shaik Doud sworn:—I am a topman belonging to the Brig 
Futteh Islam . We left here about two months ago for Rangoon, 
touching at the Nicobars; we first anchored at Acheen; we were 
about a month and a half getting there, and stopped there six 
days; then we got up anchor, and arrived at Nicobar in three days 
at an Island called Trinkuttee ; we stopped there four days. The first 
day two boats came with eight men only; they brought two or three 
fowls and some young cocoanuts (for the water) ; the second day they 
brought 2 or 300 nuts (very few) ; the third day they only brought one 
or two hundred nuts; the Nacodah gave them cloth, tobacco, Malay 
knives, and some arrack in exchange ; the fourth day they brought a 




( 276 ) 


few nuts; two boats came, first with only four or five men each ; after¬ 
wards three boats came full of men; I think altogether about thirty men ; 
there were five or six men sitting near the Naeodah, one man smoking 
a cheroot; he called for fire up out of the boat; they brought it up in 
a thick bamboo; after he had lit his cheroot, he, with the same bamboo, 
hit the Nacodali over the head; he fell down immediately, and then a 
number of men who were in the boats alongside rushed up on deck with 
large pieces of firewood (jungle wood) and several spears, and began 
killing as fast as they could. I then jumped down into the hold 
with two others, and we hid ourselves behind some wood and mats. 
This was about 3^- p. m. ; we remained down until about 7 o'clock, when 
it was getting dark; we then came on deck; we found not a soul either 
dead or alive, but there was a great deal of blood about the deck and 
something like teeth. We got the pin out of the shackle of the chain 
and slipped it (the chain) ; this was about 9 p. m. There was only a 
little wind when we started, but when we got some distance out, it 
freshened up. There appeared to be no quarrelling whatever before 
the natives began to murder the crew; but when one man is knocked 
down, the Chooliahs run away like so many fowls. There may be a man 
or two alive on shore ; I can't tell; but I don't think there is, for the 
natives seem to have cut them up like beef. We were eight days com¬ 
ing here, and anchored outside the fort last night at 9 o'clock. When I 
was in the hold I heard people speaking on deck. The natives there 
speak the Chooliah language and Malay. I heard one say in the Malay 
language “ Sommo/ir suda aabeesh ." I think there must be some 
Malays among them; they speak the language so well. There were 
24 persons on board when we left here, and 21 have been killed. There 
were two boys of about 14 years old and a girl of about seven or eight 
years, the daughter of a seekanie. I should know the island again if 
I were to see it. 


Before me, 
(Sd.) 


Shaik Doud, 
his X mark. 

G. F. Gottlieb, 

Marine Magistrate. 


Sultan sworn :—I am the malbhundary or person who takes account 
of all cargo that comes in or goes out of the Brig Futteh Islam. I 
know the cargo that was on board when we left. From this.we went 
to Acheen in about 18 days; we took in water, went out, were out some 
days, and put back ; stopped there three days and went out again. We did 
not trade there at all. We got to the Nicobar in six days from Acheen. 
The first day two boats came off with a few green cocoanuts, for which 
we gave them some tobacco and each man a wineglass of rum. There 
were eight men. The second day two boats came with about 10 men; 
they brought some cocoanuts, not many, for which we gave them China 
tobacco ; they came early in the morning and left about 10 ; they came 
again at 4 p. M., and then brought about 2 or 300 cocoanuts, and whilst 
we were putting the nuts down, the natives rose on us. The head man 



( 277 ) 

called for fire, and they handed up out of the boat a thick heavy bamboo 
about two feet long. The head man (apparently) struck the second 
JNI acodah first, and when he was down, then the first Nacodah. There 
was no quarrelling whatever. The break out was about 4 o’clock, wheu 
I jumped down into the hold, and got behind some firewood and mats. 
It was nearly dark when we came up. Whilst we were down we could 
hear a great noise on deck, but could not make out the words. They 
speak the Malay language. When we came up we saw nobody, but 
theie was a good deal of blood about the deck. There were two boys 
on board for cooking, about 10 or 12 years old, and a girl about 10 
years old. dhey may have taken them on shore, but I think they killed 
them all and threw them overboard. I know the island very well; I 
should be able to point out the spot. We have been eight days coming 
back. I was never at the Nicobars before. The Island is called Trinkuttee. 

The signature of Sultan. 

Before me, 

(Sd.) G. F„ Gottlieb, 

Marine Magistrate . 


PaJcier sworn :—I was cook for the Nacodah and Malim of the 
Putteh Islam. I was on deck at the time (forward). There was no 
quarrelling or loud talk whatever. I saw a man strike the Nacodah 
with a bamboo, and I then got down into the hold about 3 o'clock. The 
moon was up when we came up on deck : nobody was to be seen; we 
were not far from the shore. 


i 


Before me, 
(Sd.) 


Pakier, 
his X mark. 

G. F. Gottlieb, 
Marine Magistrate. 


Sultan recalled ,—says there was on board the brig on leaving 
Penang, as follows :— 

4 chests of various kinds of cloths and handkerchiefs. 

1 chest of glass-ware. 

1 ditto China tobacco. 

1 ditto containing gunpowder and fish hooks. 

1 ditto black cloth. 

5 pieces Europe longcloth. 

20 swords. 

25 axes. 

1 bag of bird shot. 

1 bale of leaf tobacco. 

1 large cask of rum? 

1,000 empty bottles. 




( 278 ) 


There is nothing 1 of the above remaining on board, but the cask of 
rum (from which 55 bottles had been taken out and a number of empty 
bottles). The Nacodah had a bag of rupees in his cabin (I don't 
know how many), which has also been taken by the natives of the 
island. 

The signature of Sultan. 

Before me, 

(Sd.) G. F. Gottlieb, 

Marine Magistrate. 

From the Deputy Secy, to Govt., Straits Settlements, to the Hon'ble 
Colonel H. Man, Resident Councillor, Prince of Wales Island ,— 
No. 146-1159, dated the 5 th November 1866. 

In acknowledging the receipt of your letter No. 495 of the 25th 
ultimo, with enclosures, relative to the attack on the Brig Futtek Islam, 
I have been desired by His Honor the Governor to request that you will 
point out to the Master Attendant that some cross-examination of the 
two men Shaik Doud and Sultan should have taken place in order to clear 
up the discrepancies between their statements and render their depositions 
less meagre; the vessel also should have been inspected to ascertain whether 
the marks of blood to which the witnesses referred were still visible. 

2. The necessary communication on the subject of the outrage 
has been addressed to the Senior Naval Officer. 


From the Hon'ble Colonel H. Man, Resident Councillor, Prince of 
Wales Island, to the Deputy Secy, to Govt., Straits Settlements, 
Singapore,—No. 533, dated the 23 rd November 1866. 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 146 
of the 5th instant, and to forward further evidence in the case of the 
Brig Futteh Islam. 

2. I would mention in explanation that before sending off the 
letter I had ascertained from Captain Gottlieb that he had personally 
inspected the vessel and found in it corroborative evidence of the truth 
of the lascar's statement; and that he had further told me that the 
reason he had not proceeded with the examination of the cook-boy, 
Pakier, was that he found him of such very defective intelligence, that 
he could place no reliance on any statement he might make. The 
proceedings were somewhat hurried, as we were anxious to take 
advantage of a steamer starting that evening for Singapore. 


From the Marine Magistrate, Prince of Wales Island, to the Hon’ble 
Colonel H. Man, Resident Councillor,—dated the 15 th No¬ 
vember 1866. 

I beg to inform you that I have recalled and cross-examined those 
three persons who brought back the Brig Futteli Islam from the Nicobars, 
and I send herewith a copy of their cross-examination. I beg also to 





( 279 ) 


notice that I went on board the Futteh Islam myself the morning* after 
her arrival here (which was at night), and saw distinctly marks of blood 
in two places, viz., in the front of the raised quarter-deck, that is, the 
peipendicular part where blood had apparently been running down, and 
also at the starboard chesstree against the bulwark, where blood had 
also been running down the side. 

It appears that the Nacodah and Karaney (sometimes called the 
2nd Nacodah) of the brig were sitting aft on the raised quarter-deck, 
with a number of natives round them, when they were murdered; the 
spot was pointed out to me by the survivors. 

I have been informed that several native vessels and an English 
barque were cut off in this same island many years ago, and were burnt 
after the crews were murdered. The natives, I have been told, have 
books and papers of different vessels they have cut off. But of this, 
of course, I have no proof. I remember being cautioned when I com¬ 
manded a ship out of this port (some 40 years ago) never to attempt to 
trade at that island. 


Cross-examination of the Survivors of the Brig Futteh Islam, by the 
Marine Magistrate, Penang, on the 12 th November 1866. 

ShaiJc Bond recalled, on oath, further deposeth as follows :—When 
we first anchored at Aeheen we remained five or six days; then we went 
out and got near the Nicobars, but it was blowing so hard that we ran 
back and anchored in Aeheen roads, where we stopped three or four days, 
and then went out again, and anchored at Trinkuttee in three or four days. 
The Nacodah and Karaney were sitting on the raised quarter-deck when 
they were killed with a number of natives round them. We did not 
unshackle the chain but cast off the end which was made fast round the 
mast; I was wrong in saying we unshackled it. I said, when last 
examined, I saw something like teeth on the deck; there was something 
white. I don't know what it was; I did not touch it. Nearly the 
whole of the deck was covered with blood. When we slipped the cable 
the wind was blowing off the land, a light breeze ; we hoisted the jib and 
foretop-mast stay-sail; I then went up and loosed the foresail, and 
foretop-sail, and foretop gallant-sail. I did it all myself; the two other 
men could not go aloft. I know something of the compass. I know 
Penang was to the eastward. We did not anchor anywhere until we 
sighted Penang. Sultan and myself steered the vessel; the cook-boy 
knows nothing. 

Shatk Doud, 
his X mark. 

Before me, 

(Sd.) G-. E. Gottlieb, 

Marine Magistrate . 



( 280 ) 


Saltan recalled, on oath, further states:—I saw nothing like teeth , 
but there were pieces of a man's brains lying about the deck. We did 
not wash the deck ; it remained. I saw the natives of the place kill 
two men, the Nacodah and Sarang. The Nacodah and Karaney were 
sitting on the raised quarter-deck on the starboard side, with their backs 
against the skylight, the natives forming a semicircle round them. 
There were other natives aft and in boats on both sides; they made a 
great noise when they commenced killing our men. I jumped down the 
main hatchway on some cocoanuts. The head Nacodah was killed first 
and then the Sarang. There was a great deal of blood on both sides of 
the deck when we came up. The brig lay about half a mile off shore. 
The last time I gave evidence here I was flurried; I am quite cool and 
collected now. I was on deck when the natives commenced killing the 
crew. There were no high words or quarrelling whatever. 

The signature of Sultan. 

Before me, 

(Sd.) G. F. Gottlieb, 

Marine Magistrate. 


Palder (cook-boy)—I saw the natives of the island kill two of 
our men the 1st and 2nd Nacodahs. I went down the fore-hatcli. I 
was forward at the cook-house when the two men (the Nacodahs) were 
knocked down. We got down into the hold about 4 o'clock and came 
up about 7. There was nothing to be seen about the deck but a great 
deal of blood. We slipped the cable and came away. I think I should 
know those men if I were to see them again. 

Pakier, 
his X mark. 


Before me, 

(Sd.) G. F. Gottlieb, 

Marine Magistrate. 


From Colonel A. Fytche, c s. i., Chief Commr ., British Bnrmah, and 
Agent to the Governor General , to the Secy, to the Govt, of India , 

Foreign Dejjartment, — No. 52 P., dated the 2Z?id March 1867. ’ 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 26, 
dated 7th January last, forwarding an extract from the Abstract of the 
Proceedings of the Government of the Straits Settlements, in the Foreign 
Department, from the 1st to 31st October 1866, and informing me that 
Colonel Cavenagh had been instructed to forward me certain depositions, 
taken in the Police Court at Penang, relative to a piracy lately committed 
on the British Brig Futteh Islam by the Nicobar islanders. 

After a perusal of these documents, I am requested to report the 
amount of credit I attach to deponents' statements, and also as to the 
ariangements which, in case the Government should determine to 




( 231 ) 


undertake some measures of chastisement against these islanders, might 
appear to me best calculated to secure a permanent repression of their 
piratical practices. 

2. I have no reason whatever to doubt the whole truth of the 
statements made by the three survivors of the Fulteh Islam. They 
agree fully with many others of a similar nature I have heard of from 
time to time, and with those traced and enquired into by Captain Lewis, 
the writer of Busch’s Journal (referred to in extract from a Note com¬ 
piled in the Foreign Office in 1856, and forwarded with your letter), 
and reported to the Government of India by him in 1845-46. 

3. Captain Lewis, who is now Master Attendant of Rangoon 
informs me that he knows the exact position where the present outrage 
was committed, and in the accompanying rough sketch* has marked out 
as near as possible the village Malacca, where the pirates reside. It 
will be observed that the village is not situated in the Island of Trinkuttee, 
but in a small cove of Nancowry Harbour in the Island of Nancowry, 
from which they frequently pass over to Trinkuttee to fish and collect salt 
deposited in natural pans there. He states, also, that they are the same 
pirate horde who cut off two vessels at anchor under the S. W. point of 
Trinkuttee in 1852, and after murdering every soul on board both vessels, 
as far as he could ascertain from personal enquiries on the spot, slipped 
the cables of these vessels and towed them off the east side of Nancowry, 
where they scuttled them in eighteen fathoms water, and where, after 
four days' search in boats, he discovered them. 

4. Both Captain Lewis and many others whom I have conversed 
with formerly regarding piracies committed at the Nicobars, agree that, 
with very few exceptions, all vessels that have been cut off at these 
islands have been so by the people residing in and near to Nancowry 
Harbour, instigated possibly in some instances by Malays who reside 
there every season to catch and dry the biche-de-mer (holothuria edulis ), 
and encouraged, too, no doubt, by the impunity with which they have 
hitherto committed these outrages. 

5. I am decidedly of opinion that steps should be taken to punish 
this pirate horde, and the only mode of doing so effectually will be by 
the entire destruction of the plantations of cocoanut trees in the vicinity 
of Malacca, and the village itself destroyed by fire; after which a notice 
on a white board, written in Malay character with black letters, should 
be attached to some tree, stating the cause of this demonstration. If 
possible, endeavours should be made to get one or two of the natives on 
board the vessel sent to carry out this duty previous to its execution, and 
explain to them the reason, also, why the punishment is inflicted, and 
not liberate them until it was accomplished. The wealth of these 
islanders consists in these cocoanut plantations, and the above course has 
been suggested to me as the only one which is likely to have any 
deterrent effect. 

6. The armed steamer Kwantung , with the additional crew that 
has been lately recommended, with perhaps a portion of the Marine 
Reserve at Port Blair, will be able to carry out the above duty, and 

* Sketch omitted. 


3G 





( 282 ) 


she might be usefully employed occasionally in the season (N. E. mon¬ 
soon) when vessels generally frequent the Nicobars in visiting these 
islands. This, in conjunction with one example of punishment, would 
go far to prevent further piracies. 

7. The Nicobar Islands were only finally abandoned by the Danish 
Government in the latter end of 1857 or the commencement of 1858. 
If they had been abandoned earlier, they would probably have been 
examined as to their capabilities for a convict settlement, as well as the 
Andaman group. There is one island of this group, Carmorta, I am 
informed, about uineteen miles in length, and from eight to three miles 
in breadth, with good anchorage at all seasons, entirely free from jungle, 
and formed from north to south of a series of undulating hills; 
abundauce of good water readily obtainable, good soil, and in every 
respect far preferable as a convict settlement to Port Blair. 


From the Secy, to the Govt, of India , Foreign Department , to Colonel 

A. Fytche, c. s. i.. Chief Commr. 3 British Burmah ,— No.A, dated 

ZZnd April 1867. 

I have received and laid before the Governor General in Council 
your letter No. 52P, dated 22nd ultimo, submitting your views in 
regard to the murderous attack lately committed on the British Brig 
Futteh Islam by certain of the Nicobar islanders. 

2. In reply, I am directed by His Excellency in Council to observe 
that there has always been much difficulty in dealing with the cases of 
vessels cut off at the Nicobars; for these islands being freely resorted to 
during the N. E. monsoon by the Malay boats, all of whom are ready to 
join in acts of piracy when opportunity offers, it has seldom been quite 
clear whether the islanders or the Malays were chiefly guilty. In this 
case of the Futteh Islam , there appear to have been both islanders and 
Malays, judging from the depositions of the survivors. The two who 
are intelligent witnesses speak of Trinkuttee as the island off which they 
were when the vessel was boarded, and 21 out of 24 people murdered. 
Captain Lewis is inclined to believe that this outrage was committed in 
Nancowry Harbour or Strait, and that the murderers belonged to the 
village ol Malacca. This may be so, but Sheikh Doud^s evidence does 
not bear out the fact; and here again is another element of uncertainty. 

3. You are of opinion that no other punishment will be so effectual 
as the entire destruction of the cocoanut plantations in Malacca, and the 
burning of the village. His Excellency in Council, I am desired to state, 
does not approve of cutting down the cocoanut trees of the islanders, for 
the cocoanut is the staple article of their honest trade, the other articles 
being few and of small value. By destroying cocoanut trees, the 
islandeis would be cut off from their source of food and traffic for some 
years. . Thus an additional stimulus to piratical acts would be given by 
a retaliatory measure of this character. At any rate, unless very clear 
oioof be obtained that the village of Malacca is the offender, this mode 
of punishment will not be resorted to. 



( 283 ) 


4. His Excellency in Council is of opinion that Sheikh Doud 
and Sultan should be engaged to point out to some of our cruizers the 
exact place where the Futteh Islam was at anchor when the slaughter of 
her crew took place. If it proved to be the spot off the village Malacca 
in the Nancowry Strait pointed out by Captain Lewis, there would be a 
fair presumption against that place and its inhabitants. Failing proof, 
the most effective measure would, His Excellency in Council thinks, be 
a blockade of the four islands which compose the group, viz., Carmorta, 
Trinkuttee, Nancowry, and Katchall, so as to cut them off for the space of 
a N. E. monsoon from all trade with the Malay or Burman coasts, 
informing the inhabitants, however, that on surrender of the perpetrators 
of this particular outrage, the blockade will be raised. 

5. The Commodore in Command in the Indian Seas has accordingly 
been addressed on the subject, and requested to carry out the blockade 
after the close of the S. W. monsoon, provided such a measure be 
practicable, and the means at his disposal enable him to spare a vessel for 
the purpose. The Government of the Straits Settlements has also been 
requested to send Sheikh Doud and Sultan (who can best identify the 
guilty village) to meet the steamer which may be deputed by the 
Commodore. 


From the Sec?/, to the Govt, of India, Foreign Department , to the Commodore 
in Command in the Indian Seas, — No. B, dated the %Znd Api'il 1867. 


I am directed by His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor General 

„ , n , in Council to furnish you with a copy 
Settlements, - - - •• J - - - - 1J 


* To Governor, Straits 

No. 25, dated 7th January. 

To Chief Commissioner, British 
Burmah, No. 26, dated 7th January. 

From Secretary to Government, 
Straits Settlements, No. 5-117, 
dated 23rd January. 

From Chief Commissioner, British 
Burmah, No. 52P, dated 22nd 
March. 

To Chief Commissioner, British 
Burmah, No. A of this date. 


of the correspondence* which has taken 
place with the Government of the 
Straits Settlements and the Chief 
Commissioner of British Burmah 
regarding the murder of the crew of 
the British Brig Futteh Islam by certain 
of the Nicobar islanders, and the deter¬ 
mination of the Government of India 
not to leave the crime unpunished. 


2. You will observe that to effect the object in view, and failing 
clear proof that the outrage was committed by the residents of the 
particular village Malacca, His Excellency in Council is inclined to 
prefer a strict blockade of the Nancowry group of islands, so as to shut 
them out from the barter trade on which they so much depend, until 
they surrender the guilty persons. His Excellency in Council, there¬ 
fore, would be glad to know if the means at your disposal will enable 
you" to meet the wishes of this Government by despatching a steam 
vessel to effect the blockade after the close of the S. W. monsoon. 

3. The Government of the Straits Settlements has been requested 
to send Sheikh Doud and Sultan, who may be able to identify the 
guilty village, to meet any steamer that may be deputed by you. 





From the Secy, to the Govt, of India, Foreign Department, to the Governor 
of the Straits Settlements, — No. C, dated the 'l%nd April 1867. 

With reference to your predecessor's letter No. 5-117, dated 23rd 
January last, regarding the murder of the crew of the British Bug 
Futteh Islam by the Nicobar islanders, I am directed by the Governor 
General in Council to furnish you with copies of letters this day addressed 
to the Chief Commissioner of British Burmah and to the Commodoie m 
Command in the Indian Seas, containing the views of the Government 
of India as to the best mode of punishing the perpetrators of this gross 

outrage. 

2. His Excellency in Council would be glad if you could arrange 
to send a vessel with Sheikh Doud and Sultan on board to meet the 
steamer which may be deputed by the Commodore, of the despatch of 
which timely information will be given to you. 


From Commodore C. T. Hillyar, Commanding East India Station , 
to His Excellency the Bight Hon'ble Sir J. L. M. Lawrence, 
Bart., g. c. b., g. c. s. i., Viceroy and Governor General of India ,— 
dated the 13 th June 1867. 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the 
Secretary to the Government of India, dated 22nd April 1867, forward¬ 
ing to me, by your Excellency's direction, copy of a correspondence 
which has taken place with the Governor of the Straits Settlements 
and the Chief Commissioner of British Burmah regarding the murder 
of the crew of the British Brig Futteh Islam by certain of the Nicobar 
islanders, and informing me of the determination of the Government 
of India not to leave the crime unpunished. 

2. Having received a report from the Straits Government, 
through Captain Ross, of Her Majesty's Ship Pearl , senior officer in 
the Straits of Malacca, on this subject, dated so far back as November 
last, and not having received any communication from your Excellency 
in Council connected therewith, I deemed it advisable that one of Her 
Majesty's ships should visit these islands to impress upon the natives 
that we are fully prepared to punish them for any acts of piracy com¬ 
mitted by them in these waters ; and Her Majesty's Ship Wasp being 
the first vessel at my disposal, I sent orders to Captain Bediugfeld of 
that vessel, dated the 11th January last (with copies of the correspon¬ 
dence referred to), “to proceed to Prince of Wales Island to communi¬ 
cate with the Resident Councillor there; then to go on to the Island 
of Trinkuttee, and use his best endeavours to ascertain the truth of this 
alleged outrage, and whether any of the crew were yet alive and 
detained on the island, and, if so, endeavour to obtain their release; to be 
particularly careful as to his conduct with the natives, and not to under¬ 
take any hostile operations without my express authority, unless British 
life or property should be at stake and require immediate interference 



( 285 ) 


but owing* to that vessel being employed on the east coast of Africa, 
cruising for the suppression of the slave trade, my orders did not reach 
Captain Bedingfeld so soon as I anticipated, and she only left Trinco- 
malee on the 11th May last. 

3. Failing clear proof that the outrage was committed by the 
residents of the particular village, Malacca, I quite agree with your 
Excellency in Council that a strict blockade of the Nancowry group 
of islands should be established, so as to shut them out from the barter 
trade, on which they so much depend, until they surrender the guilty 
persons; and I shall make it a point to meet the wishes of the Indian 
Government and despatch a steam-vessel to effect the blockade after 
the close of the S. W. monsoon, about the end of November, when 
the heavy gales which usually blow in the early part of that month, 
are over. 

4. I would respectfully suggest to your Excellency that, as I may 
not be able, with the small squadron under my command, to spare more 
than one vessel for this service, that one of the small gun-boats at 
Calcutta be sent to meet the ship-of-war I depute, to assist in this 
blockade, and to be under the orders of the naval officer in command. 

5. The necessity of this blockade will depend, as I think your 
Excellency will agree with me, on the reports that I may receive on 
this subject from Captain Bedingfeld, of Her Majesty's Ship Wasp, 
and whether any steps have been taken by that officer and the Governor 
of the Straits Settlements to settle this matter; and I will not fail 
to forward to your Excellency in Council a full account of Captain 
Bedingfeld's proceedings as soon as they reach me. 

6. I agree also in opinion with your Excellenc)^ in Council, shown 
in the 4th paragraph of the letter of the Secretary of the Government of 
India of the 22nd April, 1867, No. A, to the Chief Commissioner of 
British Burmah, “ that Sheikh Eoud and Sultan should be engaged to 
point out to some of our cruisers the exact place where the Futteh Islam 
was at anchor when the slaughter of her crew took place," and I shall be 
obliged if your Excellency will give directions for these men to be in 
readiness for that purpose, and inform me where they are to be picked up. 

7. I beg to inform your Excellency that I intend to make Trinco- 
malee my head-quarters during this monsoon. 


From the Secy, to the Govt, of India, Foreign Department, to the Colonial 
Secy to Govt., Straits Settlements, — No. 665, dated the 8th July 1867. 

With reference to my letter No. C, dated 22nd April List, I am 
directed by the Governor General in Council to forward a copy °i a 

communication* from the Commodore Com- 
* Dated 13th June. manding East Indian Station, from which it 

will be seen that the contemplated blockade of the Nancowry group of 
the Nicobar Islands will be carried out by the end of November next. 




) 


( 280 ) 


2. The Government of the Straits Settlements will observe that 
the Commodore concurs with the Government of India as to the expe¬ 
diency of despatching* Sheikh Doud and Sultan to point out the exact 
scene of the atrocity now to be aveng*ed. I am therefore to request 
that, with the permission of His Excellency the Governor, arrangements 
may be made for keeping these men in readiness, and that information 
of the port at which they can be picked up may be sent direct to the 
Commodore at Trincomalee. 


Office memorandum by Colonel H. W. Norman, Secy, to the Govt, of 
India , in the Marine Department ,— No. 24sM, dated the 26th July 1867. 

In reply to office memorandum No. 666, dated 8th instant, from 
the Foreign Department, the undersigned is directed to forward copy of 
a letter from the Officiating Master Attendant, No. 0391, dated 17tli 
instant, and to state that the Right Hon'ble the Governor General in 
Council approves of the proposals therein contained for the employment 
of the Kwantung in the blockade of the Nancowry group of islands, and 
for a row-boat to be fitted as a gun-boat and attached to the Kwantung 
for service in shallow water and creeks which that vessel might not be 
able to enter. 

2. It will be observed that the Celerity will not be ready to take 
the place of the Kwantung for some weeks, and it will be necessary that 
early intimation be given to the Master Attendant when and where that 
vessel should join the one with which she will have to act. 

3. All other necessary instructions and communications to the 
Commodore will, it is concluded, be issued in the Foreign Department, 
unless it be desired, in order to prevent delay in dealing with the matter, 
that the whole affair should be dealt with in the Marine Department, in 
which case any necessary information as to what has been already 
ordered is solicited. 


From the Offg. Master Attendant , to the Secy, to the Govt, of India , 
Marine Department ,— No. 0391, dated the 17th July 1867. 


With reference to Assistant Secretary Major Lees' memorandum 


Memorandum No. 666, dated 
8th July 1867, from the Secre¬ 
tary to Government of India, 
Foreign Department, Political, 
to the Secretary to the Govern¬ 
ment of Inaia, Military Depart¬ 
ment, with enclosure. 


No. 33, dated 16tli instant, with enclosures 
as per margin, herewith returned, I have the 
honor to report, for the information of His 
Excellency the Viceroy and Governor Gene¬ 
ral in Council, that there are no gun-boats in 
Calcutta, and no vessels of that description 
at the disposal of this Department. 


2. One of the small screw gun-boats that were sent out during 
the mutiny is at Chittagong, but she is only adapted for river naviga¬ 
tion, and would be entirely unsuited to the service indicated. 




( 287 ) 

3. The Steamer Kwantung would be a suitable vessel, and she lias 
her armament on board. 

4. Her place at Port Blair could be supplied by the Celerity , which 
is under repair, and will be ready for service in about six weeks. 

5. Should it be deemed desirable to attach a small vessel to the 
Kwantung to go into shallow waters and creeks where the Kwantung 
cannot enter, a row-boat might be fitted as a gun-boat, as was done at 
the commencement of the last Burmah war, when Her Majesty's Ship 
Serpent blockaded the mouth of Bassein river with the aid of one of our 
row-boats so fitted as a tender. 


From the Secy, to the Govt, of India , Foreign Department , to the Commodore 

Commanding East India Station , Trincomalee ,— No. 765, dated the 

%nd August 1867. 

I HAVE received and laid before the Governor General in Council 
your letter dated the 13th June last, showing the steps you propose to 
take for carrying out the contemplated blockade of the Nancowry 
group of islands in the Nicobars. 

2. With reference to your application for a small gun-boat to, 
assist in the blockade, I am directed to state that, as there are no vessels 
of this description at Calcutta, it has been decided to place at your 
disposal the armed steamer Kwantung and a row-boat fitted up as a 
gun- boat instead. The latter, it is thought, might be useful to go into 
shallow waters and creeks where the Kivantung could not enter. 

3. The Government of India is anxious to know as soon as possi¬ 
ble when and where those vessels should join the ship of the Royal 
Navy designated for the service, because it would be necessary to 
despatch from Calcutta another vessel to take the place of the Kwantung 
at Port Blair. In order to save time, the Governor General in Council 
desires me to suggest that you should communicate your wishes 
direct to the Officiating Master Attendant at Calcutta, who will be 
instructed, through the Marine Department, to act at once on your 
communication. 

4 With regard to the men Sheikh Doud and Sultan, whose pre¬ 
sence you require in order to ascertain exactly the scene of the outrage 
now to be avenged, I am to add that the Government of the Straits 
Settlements has been requested to keep them in leadmess, and to infoim 
you of the port at which they can be picked up. 


From Colonel H. W. Norman, Sec,,, lo the Govt. India, Marine 
Department , to the Commodore Commanding East India elation, 
Bombay, — No. NIM, dated the 17 th August 1867. 

H wing laid before the Government of India your letter of the 
30th ultimo, and the reports which accompanied it, of the murder 





( 288 ) 


of the crew of the Full eh Islam in the Nicobar Islands, and of similar 
atrocities which have been committed there in former years, I am 
directed to acquaint you that, having carefully considered the matter, 
the Right Hon'ble the Governor General in Council has determined 
on the following measures, with the view, if practicable, of punishing 
those who committed the outrages in question, and of enabling the 
Government of India to decide in what way the natives of those 
islands may best be brought into order and similar atrocities prevented 
in future :~— 

1. —The association wi^h Her Majesty's Ship Wasp of the Kivan- 
tung for the first business of the expedition, viz., to recover the whole 
of the white captives and to punish the chief offenders. For this pur¬ 
pose two or three companies of good native troops, fully equipped for 
service, will be sent in or with the Kwantung. 

II.—The appointment of Colonel Man, lately a Resident Coun¬ 
cillor in the Straits Settlements, as Civil and Political Officer, should 
he be able and willing to undertake the duty, to enquire into and report 
on all that has occurred, and to advise the Government of India as to 
the measures to be taken in future for the effectual suppression of the 
piratical and plundering tendencies of these people, especially as to 
the expediency of holding the islands or not; and, if so, whether it 
should be by annexing them to the Government of the Straits or of 
India. He will be requested, in the event of his recommending the 
latter course, to state wliat specific arrangements he would suggest for 
carrying it out. 

2. In communicating the above, and intimating that it has seemed 
to the Right HoiFble the Governor General in Council better that all 
orders, &c., connected with the expedition should be issued in the Mili¬ 
tary Department, I am to transmit, for your information, copy of my 
communication to the Foreign Department, No. 24M, dated 26th 
ultimo, from which you will learn that the Kwantung cannot be made 
available for some weeks; and that His Excellency in Council has 
directed that a row-boat fitted as a gun-boat shall be attached to her for 
service in shallow waters, &c. In the meantime enquiry will be made 
as to the capacity of the Kwantung to carry the troops, and as to the 
best means of transporting any that she cannot accommodate. 

3. As early an intimation as convenient is desired as to when 
and at what place of rendezvous the Kwantung should meet the Wasp, 
as also for how many days the native troops should be victualled, and 
whether it would be desirable that they should be supplied with tents 
of any description; and I am to request the favor of your causing 
intimation of the place of rendezvous to be sent direct to Colonel Man 
(at Penang), to whom a copy of this letter will be transmitted, with a 
request that he will at once inform you of his acceptance, or otherwise, 
of the post offered to him. Should you consider that it might be 
advantageous and likely to further the success of the expedition if he 
were personally to confer with you respecting it, he will be authorized 
to comply with any proposals you may make to him for that purpose. 


( :289 ) 


4. Before finally deciding whether the native troops to he employed 
should consist of two or of three companies (of from 70 to 80 men 
each), the Right Hon'ble the Governor General in Council will be 
glad of Captain Bedingfeld's opinion on the subject, as that officer will 
have a better idea than can be formed by others who are unacquainted 
with the locality of the strength of the party which should be sent. 

5. For greater convenience, and in order to prevent unnecessary 
delay, perhaps you will be so good as to forward a copy of any com¬ 
munication you may address to me on the subject referred to in the 
last two paragraphs to the Officiating Secretary to Government, Military 
Department, Calcutta, who will at once issue any orders that may 
be immediately necessary. 


P. S .—Since the above was written, the Governor General has 
received your letters dated the 5 th and 7th instant, and His Excellency 
will be interested in learning the result of the visit of the Wasp to the 
islands, which has been undertaken at the desire of the Government 
of the Straits for the purpose of endeavouring to release the captives. 
But His Excellency in Council does not think it advisable in any way 
to alter the arrangements already determined on and communicated to 
you in the foregoing letter. 

From Commodore L. G. Heath, Commanding Past India Station, to 
His Excellency Sir J. L. M. Lawrence, Bart., g. c. b., g. c. s. i., 
Viceroy and Governor General of India,—dated Bombay, the *30 th 
July 1867. 

I enclose, for your Excellency's information, copies of reports 
made by Captain Bedingfeld, Commanding Her Majesty's Ship Wasp, 
of his proceedings at the Nicobar Islands whilst endeavouring to 
ascertain the facts connected with the alleged murder of 21 of the crew 
of Futteh Islam in October last. These repoits may he summed up 
as follows. 

1st .—The whole of the men belonging to the Futteh Islam were 
murdered, but the massacre took place at Great Nicobar, and not, as 
previously supposed, at Trinkuttee (which is separated from Great Nicobar 
by a channel 50 miles wide.) 

2nd .—In the immediate neighbourhood of Trinkuttee or Nancowry 
(which is close to it) there are certainly two, and perhaps four, white 
females and one boy kept in captivity by the natives, and that the 
vessels to which they belonged were wrecked or captured from three 
to seven years back. 

Your Excellency will observe that Captain Bedingfeld's report 
on the Futteh Islam massacre is founded upon information he received 
at Nancowry; but assuming its correctness, it would seem that future 
proceedings should be directed— 

\st .—To the recovery of the white captives at Nancowry; and 

2nd .—To the summary punishment of Buttai and his co-villagers, 
the murderers of the crew of the Futteh Islam at Groat Nicobai. 

37 




( 290 ) 


X. 


1 would suggest to your Excellency that, considering the lapse of 
time since the actual committal of the outrages at Nancowry, and the 
great difficulty of separating the innocent from the guilty, the first 
object might be attempted by the offer of rewards and promise 
of immunity from punishment to those who delivered up the 
captives. 

With respect to the punishment of the murderers of the crew of 
the Futteh Islam, I would suggest that authority should be given to 
the officer entrusted with the execution of the rough justice, which is 
I am afraid alone practicable in this case, to burn the village of which 
Buttai is the Chief, and to destroy, as far as possible, all means of 
sustenance within a radius of half a mile from the village. The crime 
appears to have been local, and the punishment would thus be equally 
circumscribed. 

I am aware that your Excellency had intended to punish these 
Islanders by a blockade during the coming N. E. monsoon of the 
Nancowry group. The enclosed reports, however, show that to touch 
the most recent offenders, the Island of Great Nicobar would have to be 
included in the blockade, and it is because I could hardly spare a suffi¬ 
cient force for this purpose from my small squadron, without unduly 
weakening the force stationed on the coast of Africa for the suppression 
of the slave trade, that I venture to suggest, in the altered aspect of the 
case, a different mode of proceeding. 


From Captain N. B. Bedingfeld, Commanding Her Majesty's Ship-of- 
war Wasp, to Commodore C. T. Hillyar, Commanding East India 
Station,—dated the 6th July 1867. 

In continuation of my letter of proceedings dated 12th ultimo, I 
have the honor to inform you that we left Penang on the same date, and 
arrived at Nancowry Harbour on the 16th, having had occasionally to 
use steam in consequence of light and contrary winds and strong 
currents, and I took the opportunity when steaming on the 14th to lay 
out and practise at a target with shot and shell. 

2. My report to the Lieutenant-Governor will give you full parti¬ 
culars of what we did at the islands. 

3. Finding I could do no more without commencing hostilities, 
and fearing to endanger the lives of these unfortunate girls, unless the 
thing was well and effectually done, I reluctantly left the islands with¬ 
out obtaining their release on the 25th ultimo, making the best of my 
way to Penang with the natives I have detained on board, that full 
information might be given to the authorities of the atrocities that have 
been going on for years at these islands. 



( 291 ) 


4. I sent one of the natives I had detained on shore with a 
message to the chiefs that they would he severely punished if any harm 
came to the white captives; and my intention was, had the Lieutenant- 
Governor given me 20 sepoys, to have returned and released them in the 
first instance, and then waited further instructions. 

5. The Lieutenant-Governor, however, was involved in so many 
difficulties about the matter, owing to the Government only just having 
been turned over to the Colonial Office, the sepoys being still under the 
Indian Government, and the Attorney General being at Singapore also, 
and there being considerable doubt as to what jurisdiction the islands 
belong, that he begged me at once to proceed to Singapore to the 
Governor, as the case was urgent and most important, and no vessel 
would be going that way until the mail of the 9th instant. 

T accordingly re-embarked the natives, and having coaled and 
directed your instructions to be sent on to me at Singapore, 1 left on 
the 2nd instant. 

6. I arrived this morning, and shortly after the mail steamer 
came in I lost no time in seeing the Governor, and he is inclined to 
take most energetic measures to recover the white girls and punish 
the pirates at the Nicobar Islands. What these measures may be must 
depend on your instructions by the mail of the 12th instant. 1 have 
landed the prisoners and sent in the depositions of the natives, &c. I 
shall be unable to give you more information until next mail, when 1 
shall have your further instructions, and I trust your approval of 
my proceedings. 

The ship^s company continue in good health, with the exception 
of the usual amount of sickness after general leave. 


From Captain N. B. Bedingfeld, Commanding Her Majesty’s Ship-of- 
war Wasp, to the Hon^ble A. E. II. Anson, Lieutenant-Governor , 
Straits Settlements,—dated the H$th June 1867. 

I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency 
the Governor of the Straits Settlement, that in compliance with orders 
from Commodore C. T. Hiilyar, Commanding the East India Station, 
V proceeded to the Nicobar Islands to make enquiries as to the massacre 
on board the Brig Futteh Islam in October last, and also with reference 
to a statement made by Mahomed Myden that he had seen a white 
woman in captivity in the Island of Trinkuttee. 

We arrived at Nancowry on the 16th instant, and anchored in False 
Harbour, where we found two English barques; one from Penang (the 
Harriet) had been trading for about a month, and on board her was 
Sheik Doud, who was supposed to Liave been sent to me at Penang; 
the man I have also belongs to the brig, but his name is Sultan; the 
former had fortunately prevented the Master of the Harriet from 


y 



( 292 ) 


anchoring in the very same spot where the murder took place, and 
which is at the Great Nieobars, at a place called Trinkuttee, Sambillang— 
Sambillang being the native name for the Island of Great Nicobar. 

I was enabled to obtain all the information I required about this 
case at Nancowry, as the natives had brought their plunder to exchange, 
and I fancy are in league with these people. It is said that the money 
taken from the brig is buried somewhere on Carmorta Island, and that 
the brother of Sir John Nichols was present at the capture. All the 
crew were murdered, except the three that escaped to Penang : the head 
man concerned in the plot is called Buttai; his town is situated near 
the beach with deep water close in shore. 

There seems to have been no provocation on the part of the crew of 
the brig, and this is probably only one of the many native vessels that 
have been plundered by these scoundrels (the others afterwards scuttled). 

The other barque was the Rattlesnake , belonging to the Sultan of 
the Maldives, under English colors, only just arrived from Bombay; 
the statement of her Captain on oath (annexed) will be of consider¬ 
able interest. 

Hearing that the woman who spoke to Mahomed Myden about 
the white woman was living close by, I landed at the village of 
Enonaga, and asked her to. come on board the following morning; she 
did so, and from the statement she made, I considered it advisable to detain 
her, together with four of the principal men who had come on board. 
By great good fortune Captain Francis, the man who was seen when the 
woman was a prisoner at Trinkuttee, was induced by a message from the 
old woman to come on board, and becoming violent when informed 
he would be detained, he was placed in irons. The several statements 
he has made since being a prisoner are annexed, as well as Terrasai 
Salamah, who is a Nancowry woman, and not a Malay as reported; her 
husband is now in Penang and is a Chinaman. 

The news that Francis was detained getting on shore, the natives 
all deserted their villages, and I could get no certain communication 
with them until the 23rd, when, having sent Amor, the brother of 
Nichols, to a town up the end of Cross Harbour, he succeeded after three 
attempts in finding out where they were, and I sent a message to 
Hang-ehee-up, telling him he was perfectly safe if he would com¬ 
municate with me; that I was fully aware of the white childern being 
still on the island, and offering a large reward to him or any other native 
who should be the means of restoring any of the white prisoners; 
and also, on the other hand, that they would be most severely punished if 
they were not given up, or any harm came to them. The messenger 
was not allowed to return, and whenever we went near a village, the 
natives deserted it. After finding, therefore, that they would not com¬ 
municate with me, I searched some of the villages for papers or anything 
that may lead to the identification of any of the ships (Francis having 


told me that all the papers, books, &c., were stowed m his house at Trill* 
kuttee); but finding everything had been removed by the natives, I con¬ 
sidered it best to return at once to Penang for further instructions, and 
that the prisoners might be examined, my orders being strict that I 
was not to commence hostilities without further communication with the 
Commodore. 

From all I have been able to glean from the contradictory state¬ 
ments made by these people, no less than three European vessels have 
been destroyed and their crews murdered, and numerous native craft, 
particularly Burmah boats. 

The barque from which the lady, her two daughters, and an ayah 
were taken was captured about seven years ago; the story of this poor 
woman is sufficiently horrible: her husband murdered, she was taken on 
shore, and was soon after confined of a child (still-born). She was then 
handed about from one of these villains to another as they had a desire 
for her—for about two years, scarcely clothed, and with nothing to eat 
that she had been accustomed to. It was scarcely to be wondered at 
that she was miserably thin when seen by Captain Ali-bin-Myden: her 
children seem to have been separated from her also, and her anxiety for 
them must have been no small affliction. After she had been seen by 
white men, it seems it was not thought prudent to keep her any longer, 
and she was taken from Francis' place to By-u-ha, and there Hang-hang-su 
caused her to be poisoned together with her children : by the old 
woman's account the poison took effect, but not sufficiently to cause 
death. Hang hang-su then took her into the bush and knocked heron 
the head : the children recovered ; one about 12 years old is now with 
Hang-chee-up, and the other, somewhere about 15 years old, is stid with 
Hang-hang-su, who murdered her mother. They are described as very 
fair with light hair; the younger one has some mark on her left cheek. 
Francis declares that both these children died of the poison, but I am 
inclined to believe the woman, who got her information from Hang- 
hang-su's wife who did the deed. 

It therefore follows that if the statement of Francis be true, that 
there are somewhere in the four islands, Nancowry, Carmorta, Trinkuttee, 
and Katchall, four European females and one boy held in captivity. 
The two girls from the barque are supposed to be French (but why 
French I can't explain), the other two English. I think there is no 
doubt whatever of the two girls being alive. 

I consider, therefore, that no time should be lost in securing these 
poor creatures and punishing the miscreants, as after the S. W. 
monsoon they can go in their canoes to the other islands, which they 
cannot do now on account of the sea, and the task would be more 
difficult. 

1 believe with about 30 sepoys and power to commence active mea¬ 
sures I could manage this in a few days : their numerous villages are 
nearly all close to the shore and can be approached at high water. The 
houses are well built, and would take some time to repair. Their fowls, 
fat pigs, on which they set great store, are all about the villages, as 


( 294 ) 


they could not live without the cocoanut trees planted round each 
village. Their canoes are completely at our mercy, and there are a great 
number of them; as a last pressure I would suggest cutting the nut 
from the cocoanut trees without killing the trees, and also the nut from 
the mangquang , their great article of food. 

Their secret hiding-places could be discovered, and in fact such 
a pressure put upon all of them, that very shortly they would gladly 
give in and sue for peace. I should also suggest a reward to any 
native who would assist in procuring the release of the white children. 
A little cloth and rum would soon bring treachery in their camps, and 
when it is considered that a bottle of rum is worth 40 cocoanuts, the 
expense need not be great. 

It seems quite astonishing that these beautiful islands, with one of 
the linest harbours in the world, should so long have been left to these 
piratical savages. 

A mission (I believe Moravian) was established many years ago* 
and by the old womans account they left partly because the people did 
not care to learn, and partly on account of the unhealthiness; it was 
when she was quite a little girl. Some of the cattle they left have bred, 
and it is said are now numerous on the fine grassy hills of Carmorta. 
Since this there seems to have been a man, named Captain Dawson, and 
a Mr. Goldsmith, living on the north end of Nancowry at different 
times. 

The book I sent was given me by the old woman, and the entry on 
the fly-leaf should be enquired into. It can easily be found out if the 
crew and master of the Arrogant escaped. All the natives agree that 
they did; but they are given to lying. 

The only plan I have of the harbour of Nancowry was taken in 
1 790, and as far as we could ascertain is correct as far as it goes. As 
it may be useful to refer to, I have caused a tracing to be taken and 
forwarded herewi th. 

I have brought with me the woman Terrasai Salamah, whose 
information is most important. Captain Johnston is said to be one of the 
greatest scoundrels on the island. All I have at present against him is 
that his people threatened to take the Rattlesnake as soon as I left, and 
which he acknowledged they were quite capable of doing if he was with 
them, but doubted if they would attempt it without him. Sir John 
Nichols is a hostage for his brother's return, and may be made use of 
for further communication with the natives and in taking them our 
ultimatum, and Captain Francis, who is said to be concerned in 
every villany that has taken place, and whose own statements are 
quite enough to condemn him. There is no doubt he consulted with 
Hang-hang-su to put the poor woman and her children out of the way, 
and kept her a prisoner for the vilest of purposes for upwards of 
four months. 


( 295 ) 


I shall be glad to hand over the prisoners as soon as convenient,. 
In conclusion, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the 
intelligence and zeal of Cassem, the Havildar of Police sent with me, 
who was most energetic and useful. I am also greatly indebted to 
Mr. Francis Shaw, who kindly volunteered his assistance as interpreter, 
and who, from his knowledge of the Malay language (which the natives 
all speak more or less), and his acquaintance with the native customs, was 
the greatest assistance to me and deserves my warmest acknowledgments. 
When convenient to you I shall be glad to wait upon you and give vou 
any further information you may require upon this subject. 


From the IIon’ble A. E. H. Anson, Lieutenant-Governor , Straits Settle¬ 
ments , to Captain N. B. Bedingpeld, Commanding Her Majesty’s 
Ship-of-war Wasp,— dated the 28 th June 1867. 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your report relative 
to the murder of the crew of the Brig Futteh Islam at the Nicobar 
Islands. 

I beg to recommend that you should proceed to Singajiore for the 
purpose of explaining the whole circumstances of the case to Ilis 
Excellency the Governor of the Straits Settlements, and of obtaining 
his instructions with regard thereto. 

It will be as well that you should take with you the persons whom 
you brought from the Nicobar Islands, in order that their evidence may 
be taken, and that they may be dealt with under the immediate direction 
of the Attorney General. 


Statement of Captain Ali-bin-Myden of the Barque Rattlesnake, belong¬ 
ing to the Sultan of the Maldive Islands,—dated 18 th June 1867. 

I have been trading at these islands for the last six years, and I 
come two or three times in each year. I know the natives to be 
treacherous in the extreme. Numbers of wrecks happen yearly; 
principally Cling and Chittagong ships laden with rice and small stores. 
The crews are invariably murdered by the natives, and the wrecks 
plundered unless another ship happens to be in harbour. 

I am aware of an English brig having been wrecked off the north 
end of Trinkuttee about six years ago, and I believe the crew were all 
murdered, except one woman. In November last I was here trading, and 
met a white European woman at the village of Captain Francis on 
Trinkuttee; she was evidently a captive. I spoke to her, offering to assist 
her to escape. She seemed in great distress and said they would murder 
her if she attempted it, and was crying bitterly. Immediately she was 
seen speaking to me, the natives came and shoved her into a house, but 
she told me, however, before they saw us that the moment a ship came 
into harbour, she was closely shut up, and only allowed out when there 




( 296 ) 


were no ships near. I asked her how long she had been there, and she 
said only two or three months. She was very thin; she told me she 
arrived in a ship trading for cocoanuts; that the captain was murdered 
on shore, and the crew, being unaware of anything that had happened, 
were surprised at night, and all murdered, with the exception of herself; 
she was taken on shore. 


In the morning they went off and broke up the ship; the panelling 
and planks are still to be seen in the town of Captain Francis on the 
north point of Trinkuttee. 


I consider the most piratical parts to be Great Nicobar, Trinkuttee, 
‘(the worst of the lot), or Carmorta, Katchall (or Katschale) Ballipulo, 
very bad, all the west of Carmorta and the N. W. end of Nancowry : 
many wrecks happen here in the N. W. monsoon; and in the S. W. 
monsoon the wrecks are mostly at Trinkuttee. 


The signature of Ali-bin-Myden. 


(Sd.) 


N. B. Bedingfeld, Capt., 
F. Shaw, 


Witnesses. 


I have seen and recognized the prisoner now on board the Wasp 
called Captain Francis, and who had the captive white woman in his 
village, and who thrust her into the house when I spoke to her, at the 
same time quarrelling with me for having done so, asking me what 
business I had to speak to her. 

This and the foregoing statement I solemnly sw r ear to be true. 

Nicobar Islands, ^ 

The 21** June 1867. ) The signature of Ali-bin-Myden. 


Sworn to before me on board Her Majesty^s Wasp , this 22nd day 
of June 1867, having been carefully read over in the Malay language 
and sworn to with the usual Malay oath. 

(Sd.) F. Siiaw, 1 (Sd.) N. B. Bedingfeld, Capt., 

„ G. H. B. Reed, j " unesses ' Her Majesty’s Wasp. 


Her Majesty’s Wasp, Nancowry Harbour , Nicobar Islands , Friday , 21s/ 

June 1867. 

Captain Ali-bin-Myden came on board, and Francis was brought 
before him; he was ready to swear to the man as being the same that 
pushed the white woman into the house and threatened him for speaking 





( *97 ) 

to her. Francis, after first denying' this, admitted it to he true; Francis 
then stated that a ship came in‘by the western passage; the Captain 
was trading for cocoanuts; the ship came from Penang. The Captain's 
wife was a white woman; she had two children and was in the family- 
way ; she had a Kling ayah with her; the ship was laden with stuff for 
barter, and Sundun heard there was a plot to plunder the ship. Putie, 
Hang-hang-su, and Cal-tu were in the plot. Hang-hang-su murdered 
the Captain on shore; afterwards they took the ship and murdered the 
crew and all, except the white woman, her two children, and the ayah : 
the white woman lived a month at Hang-hang-su's place as his wife. 
When Sundun heard there was no more rice to eat, and Hang-hang-su 
had determined to kill her in consecpience, he went over to Hang-hang- 
su's place and brought the white woman and two children to Malacca; 
the Kling woman lived at Hang-hang-su's place. The captain's wife 
lived about a month at Malacca with Sundun as his wife; when the 
rice being all finished she went to my place to seek for food. She lived 
four months with me as my wife; after living four months at my place 
Hang-hang-su came and saw her, and a ship being in at the time, he 
got frightened and took her back to his house again. I told him to take 
her away, for 1 was frightened after she had been seen by the Captain of 
the Rattlesnake. Hang-hang-su got a poisonous fish, called lkan 
Buntar, and gave it her to eat; he ordered his wife to make this up with 
mangquang and to give it to the woman and her two children. I heard 
they all died. I heard three of them were dead. I never saw them 
more. Hang-hang-su is very jealous of me; we are not good friends; 
we are at war. The ship was plundered four monsoons ago; this will 
make the fifth monsoon. The ship's panelling at my house in Trinkuttee 
was from a ship that was wrecked: you never see anything plundered 
from ships in the villages; that is always hid away in the bush. All 
the crew went to Rangoon; there were seven white men, a woman, and 
child. I gave them a place to live in at Trinkuttee; they lived there about 
a month ; they went away by a Burmah ship. The Captain of the 
Arrogant was not killed or the crew ; they all got away. 


Sunday , 23 rd June 1867.—Captain Francis sent for Mr. Shaw and 
made the following statement to him, after some attempts to hang 
himself.—About three years ago a brig came to Enonaga. Captain Corrie 
and the other natives of the place murdered the Captain and crew; after 
Ilang-chee-up (he was not concerned in the murder) came and took the 
captain's wife and two children (one boy and a girl) to his house at 
Malacca; she Jived there about a month, and then Proogan, brother-in- 
law to Hang-chee-up, came to Malacca, asking cloth from Ilang-chee-up; 
the cloth was taken from the brig: he saw the white woman and her 
two children, and took a great fancy to the children ; and, as he had no 
children of his own, asked Hang-chee-up to give them and their mother 
to him, as he wished to adopt them. Hang-chee-up gave them up, and 
they are now living at Trinkuttee with Proogan. Hang-chee-up, Proogan, 
and others plundered the brig, and then set the sails and took her out 
by the end of Katehall, where they scuttled her. The brig was at 
Enonaga about two days. Seven days ago a woman from Enonaga and 
another from Malacca came to my house at night (at midnight) ; they 

38 


( 298 ) 


roused me up and told me that a steamer bad arrived in search of the 
white woman and children. They told me to be quick and hide them, 
and not to give any information to the white men regarding them, as 
they would be sure to burn down all the houses, shoot all the men, pigs, 
and fowls, and spoil the cocoanut trees. Anyan Guddio and six others 
(Johnston's younger brother) came to my place with a canoe, and told 
me that Johnston, Polongam, Amor, and Salamah were on board the 
steamer, and they wished to see me; they told me to be sure and not 
gave any information regarding the white woman and children. All of 
them are at Trinkuttee now. 

Monday , 24 th June 1807.—Before we left, Francis again sent for 
Mr. Shaw and stated :—The white woman and two children I spoke of 
yesterday are not the same as those I said Hang-hang-su had in his 
possession. The ship they came in was plundered near Bynha. I am 
sure they are all dead, poisoned by Hang-hang-su. The vessel plundered 
by Hang-hang-su was a barque, and that by Corrie was a brig. The 
white woman who lived with me for four months was the one from the 
barque; the one from the brig never lived with me. The names of the 
two women that came to my house a week ago were Da-ooni-ha and 
Shan-esta. The white woman and two children taken from the brig are 
now at Proogan's place at Trinkuttee. The Kling woman, who came in 
the barque with the white woman, died about 15 days after she came on 
shore; she had a son with her; he is now a man, has curly hair, and 
lives at Ho-hoo. 

True copy of statement as interpreted by Mr. Francis Shaw. 


(Sd.) N. B. Bedingfeld, Capf 


Statement of Terrasai Salamah. 


1 knew Sundun; he died of consumption: he was a friend of 
Francis. Sundun was not speared by Hang-hang-su ; he speared his bro¬ 
ther Cowlim. The white woman was brought to Malacca, and Hang- 
hang-su had a quarrel about her with Sundun, but he was not killed. The 
brother was killed at Ballipulo. I know there is a white girl at Malacca 
and would bring her off if a party were sent with me. I have seen the 
children. The girl is living at Hang-chee-up's house. The girl is quite 
a child; she was the daughter of the woman Hang-hang-su poisoned; 
the elder sister is with Hang-hang-su; her breasts are just coming. 

True copy as interpreted by Mr. Francis Shaw. 








( 299 ) 


Taken from the fly-leaf of “ Goldsmith's Miscellany.” 

James Donovan, in the month of January 1855, Commander of 
the British Ship Arrogant, of London, 250 (or 5001 tons, cast away on 
the north end of Trinkuttee on the 12th instant; the ship is now aban¬ 
doned, being full of water. I have brought my crew to Nancowry, 
trusting to charter a native craft to take us to some civilized place. 

We are now entirely in the power of the natives. 

(Sd.) J. Donovan. 


From Commodore L. G. Heath, Commanding Her Majesty’s Ship-of-war 
Octavia, to Colonel H. W. Norman, c. b., Secy, to the Govt, 
of India , (Marine) Military Dept.,—dated Bombay , the 2nd Sep¬ 
tember 1867. 

Being about to proceed to Muscat, and not having as yet received 
any communication from Colonel Man as to his having accepted the 
post of Civil and Political Commissioner to the Nicobar Islands, I have 
directed Captain Bedingfeld to place himself in communication with 
that officer and attend to his requisitions. I have also directed him, 
after having consulted with Colonel Man, to communicate direct to you 
and the Officiating Military Secretary to Government, Calcutta, the 
answers to your questions as to the number of sepoys required, &c., &c., 
as detailed in your letter No. 47M, dated 17th August 1867. 

I have also directed him to forward duplicates of his reports on 
this subject direct to you, and to write to the Officiating Military Secre¬ 
tary to Government, Calcutta, in case further assistance of any sort 
is needed. 


From Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Burne, OJfg. Secy, to the Government 
of India , Military Department, to the Colonial Secretary, Straits 
Settlements, — No. 966, dated the 30 th September 1867. 


With reference to my letter No. 135, dated 5th September 1867, 
and to the Lieutenant-Governor's letter to the Foreign Department, 
No. 238, dated 22nd August 1867, reporting the proceedings of the 
Wasp, which recently proceeded with a small native force to the 
Nicobar Islands, I am directed to request that His Excellency the 
Governor of the Straits Settlements may be moved to state, for the 
information of the Government of India, whether His Excellency would 
desire that the measures recently determined upon, to send a small expedi¬ 
tion to those islands, with a view of rescuing the captives, if practicable, 
and of punishing the perpetrators of the various outrages committed 
there, should still be carried out. 


* Commodore’s letter, 30tli July 
1867, with annexments. 
Commodore’s letter, 5th & 7tli 
August 1867, with autiex- 
ments. 


2. Copies of communications* which 
have not already been sent with my letter 
of the 5th instant are now forwarded for 
reference. 


The favor of an early reply is solicited 


o 

O, 




From Colonel H. Man, m. s. c., to the Offg. Military Secretary to the 
Govt, of India,—dated Penang, the 30 th September 1807. 

Haying been directed by the Military Secretary to Government to 
report to your office any movement I may make in connection with the 
Nicobar expedition, I have the honor to state that, as His Excellency 
the Right Hon’ble the Governor General was not aware of the visit of 
Her Majesty’s Ships Wasp and Satellite to these islands when Colonel 
Norman’s letter was written, I propose remaining at Penang till further 
orders, as it has struck me as probable that this intelligence may cause 
some change in the plans of Government. 

— 

From Colonel H. Man, m. s. c., to the Military Secretary to the 
Government of India,—dated Prince of Wales Island, the 23 rd 
September 1867. 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of your letter 
to the Commodore Commanding East India Station, with its concluding 
memorandum No. 49 of the 17th August 1867, addressed to myself, con¬ 
veying the offer of an appointment as Civil and Political Officer to an 
expedition which the Government of India proposes to despatch to the 
Nicobars, to punish those islanders for the outrages they have committed 
on the crews of numerous British vessels, and to prevent such atroci¬ 
ties in future. 


2. At the time your letter was written, His Excellency the Right 
Hon’ble the Governor General had not received the report of the 
second visit of Her Majesty’s Ships Wasp and Satellite, or it might 
have altered his determination of sending a fresh expedition. Should, 
however, His Excellency still entertain the idea, I can only say my 
services are quite at his disposal for that or any other duty on which he 
may think lit to employ me. 


3. There is no doubt that it has been for years past the custom of 
these Nicobarians to make frequent prey of vessels touching at their 
shores; and the reason why these atrocities have not earlier come to our 
knowledge is, that they have invariably acted on the old maxim that 
dead men tell no tales, and butchered all who fell into their power, and, 
after plundering the vessel, scuttled her in deep water. The whole 
community being concerned in keeping the secret, and no traces left, it 
is no wonder that merely suspicion attached to the place, as of course 
many vessels were allowed to depart unharmed, and the profits they 
gained induced others to follow their steps. 


4. The late visit of Her Majesty’s Ship Wasp showed that English 
ships must, to a considerable extent, have fallen into their clutches, as 
many of their houses contained panelled doors and partitions, evidently 
taken out of good class ships, which had been most probably driven in 
there by stress of weather or disabled, and then captured. 


5. I had a conversation with an old woman, who was found on the 
island by Captain Bedingfeld, and had given him much valuable informa¬ 
tion, and I think she mentioned 19 vessels as having been cut off to her 




( 301 ) 

knowledge; and Captain Bedingfeld told me that one of the Nicobarians 
lad actually the audacity to threaten the Nacodah of a vessel then lying 

at anchor, that they would dispose of him after the departure of the 
man-of-war. 


6. With these facts before us, it cannot be doubted that it is the 
bounden duty ot the Government having the command of these seas to 
take such steps as shall prevent the occurrence of such atrocities in 
futuie, and the simplest and most effectual mode of doing so is by taking 
possession of these islands. 

7. His Excellency the Governor General desires to be informed 
in this case whether it would be more advantageous that the islands 
should be attached to India or the Straits Government. 

8. I am clearly of opinion that India should have the charge, 
when it might be attached to the Andaman command, to which it 
would seem to be intended by nature as a dependency. 


9. One great reason I would urge is, that the destination of all 
the trade frequenting the Nicobars is to Indian ports. Vessels leave 
the Straits to touch at these islands and load with cocoanuts, which thev 
produce in immense quantities, and which are bartered at most advan¬ 
tageous rates for piece-goods and rum ; and without some of the latter 
no bargain can be ratified. When they have completed their cargoes, 
they generally proceed to Burmah, where nuts always command very 
high prices; they never return direct to the Straits. Consequently, 
when a vessel quits these settlements for the Nicobars, she is lost sight 
of, and the first suspicion of her having got into trouble would arise 
at the port where she was expected, as she might touch at a dozen places 
before she comes back to us. 

10. If I may judge from past experience, I do not see how the 
Straits can efficiently assume the proposed charge. The people of Penang, 
with a trade of between £4,000,000 and £5,000,000, have frequently 
complained of the way in which they have been left unvisited for months 
by a man-of-war. A late debate in the House of Commons clearly 
showed that the future policy of Government in these seas will be to 
limit the number of our gun-boats, of which the China fleet has till 
now been chiefly composed; and if, with the present large force, the 
Admiral is frequently distressed for vessels to cruise against the Chinese 
pi rates and the Llanuns off the coast of Borneo, it is not likely that he 
will willingly undertake the protection of a petty trade in cocoanuts 
4 or 500 miles beyond the extreme limits of his command, entailing, as 
it would of necessity, the removal of a vessel from a more important 
scene of action. 

11. The Nicobars would, I think, form an important adjunct to 
the Andaman command, the Superintendent of which has, I am told, 
a gun-boat at his command, which could easily, with little interference 
with its special duties, and with benefit to the crew and vessel, pay 


( *302 ) 


periodical visits to these islands, and return, if need be, in 48 hours to 
its station; or, if this could not he spared, a steam launch, such as is 
now supplied to Her Majesty's Navy, might be attached to the settle¬ 
ment, and quite serve in ordinary weather to keep up the communi¬ 
cation. 

12. I have no personal knowledge of the present condition of 
Port Blair, but it would appear very desirable to guard against the 
probable danger of an over-accumulation of convicts at that station. 
I believe they now amount to several thousands, and are receiving 
constant increase. It is difficult to conceive how a high standard of 
penal discipline can be enforced in such a body, containing as it does 
large numbers of ticket-of-leave men intimately associated with 
prisoners still under restraint though not in actual confinement. 

13. The Nicobars, from their position, offer the most favorable 
site for the formation of an auxiliary settlement, and by the accounts 
of those who have recently visited these islands, they possess just the 
qualifications which would render them useful as a complement to the 
head-quarters station. Large grassy plains are here found well adapted 
for cattle, many of which, I hear, are now running wild; they are the 
descendants of the stock of the Missionaries who formerly resided 
here. 


14. It has struck me that a colony of 1st class convicts and others, 
who have served their time, might be established at Trinkuttee orNancowry 
with good effect, and be employed in collecting cocoanuts on Government 
or their own account, for the supply of shipping, and also in raising cattle, 
grain, vegetables, &c., for the use of Port Blair. I will not, however, 
attempt to enter into details, but merely throw out the above suggestion 
as indicating a mode by which these islands could be turned to profitable 
account. 

15. The question of the healthiness of the site must not be over¬ 
looked when permanent residency is being discussed. The late expedi¬ 
tion suffered but slightly from fever, though the men were constantly 
exposed to rough work in scouring the country during the heavy rains; 
but probably the Nicobars have their healthy and unhealthy season; at 
any rate the previous seasoning at the Andamans, under strictly analogous 
conditions, would seem to render the detachment of convicts from that 
settlement not a very dangerous experiment. I trust I have not been 
too prolix in the above statements. 


From, Colonel H. Man, m. s. c., to Colonel II. W Norman, c. b., 
Military Secretary to the Government of India,—dated Prince of 
IF ales Island, the 27 th September 1867. 

In notifying my acceptance of the appointment of Civil and Poli¬ 
tical Officer to the Nicobar expedition, I ask permission to state that, 
on being relieved of my office by Colonel Anson, who has been appointed 
by Her Majesty to be Lieutenant-Governor of Penang, I tendered my 







( 303 ) 


services to Colonel Ord, the Governor of the Straits, to be employed in 
any way he might consider most conducive to the public interests, while 
I was waiting the orders of my own Government as to my future 
destination. 

2. His Excellency the Governor was, I knew, anxious to send a 
mission to the Rajahs of Perak and Salengue to endeavour to effect a 
settlement of some long outstanding questions, and this was, indeed, 
the reason of my making the offer, as I was aware that with his new 
staff lie would find considerable difficulty in making a suitable selection. 
His Excellency readily accepted my tender. 

3. On my return from this mission I found Penang in a great 
commotion from a quarrel having sprung up between two of our largest 
Secret Societies. The riot lasted several days, and immense injury was 
inflicted on life and property. 

4. Since the suppression of these riots, I have been employed as 
President of a Committee of Inquiry on their origin and cause, and the 
connection cf the Secret Societies therewith ; and I am happy to say 
that our labors are likely to be attended with much success, as we have 
gained a very complete knowledge of the organization, rules, and 
working of the Hooeys, or Secret Societies. 

5. I have shortly to make another trip to the Native States to 
complete my present committee, and to undertake another, which will 
have to apportion compensation to the sufferers from the late emeute. 

6. I mention these facts for the information of His Excellency 
the Governor General, that he may know that I have abundance of 
useful occupation on hand to keep me fully employed till the expedition 
is ready to start. 

7. According to the best accounts, the most unhealthy time at the 
Nicobars is just at the termination of the S. W. monsoon, or about 
November, when the drying up process commences. Should His 
Excellency desire any further information in connection with these 
islands, I shall be happy to collect it. 


From Commodore L. G. Heath, Commanding East India Station, to 
His Excellency the Right Hobble Sir J. L. M. Lawrence, 
Bart, g. c. b., g. c. s. i., Viceroy and Governor General of 
India—dated Bombay, tUe 30 lit September 1867. 

Your Excellency will receive from the Governor of the Straits 
Settlements a detailed account of the proceedings at the Nicobar 
Islands of Her Majesty's Ships Wasp and Satellite, assisted by a party 
of native troops from Penang. 



( 304 - ) 




Her Majesty's Ship Wasp had apparently left the Straits before 
the arrival of my letter to her Commander, communicating your 
Excellency's wishes, as expressed by Colonel Norman in his letter 
No. 47M, dated 17th August, and she has now arrived at Trincomalee, 
and will, in accordance with instructions from the Admiralty, return 
to England. 

All that is practicable in the way of recovering the European 
prisoners has apparently been done, and a punishment sufficient, I hope, 
for the prevention of future piracies for a time, has been inflicted on 
the natives, and I presume your Excellency will therefore consider 
that the presence of a man-of-war at the Nicobars is no longer neces¬ 
sary, but that the mission of Colonel Man may safely be carried out 
under the protection of the Rangoon gun-boat. Should, however, your 
Excellency think otherwise, I would beg to suggest an application for 
assistance to the Senior Naval Officer in the Straits, who has been 
directed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to attend to any 
requisitions he may receive for assistance or otherwise respecting the 
N icobars. 


No. 113. 

Copy of the above forwarded to Colonel H. Man for information, 
with reference to his letters of the 23rd and 27th September 1867, with 
the intimation that nothing more can well be done until the receipt of 
a reply from the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the letter from 
this Department, No. 966, dated 30th September 1867. 


From the Government of India , to the Secretary of State for India— 

No. 19, dated 7th December 1867. 

In continuation of our Military letter No. 253, dated 3rd Sep- 

Cons. September 1867, Nos. 1128 and 1129. t ! mber ' 867 > f “ding Copies 

Proceedings for Sept. 1867, Nos. 851 to 857. pa pel S relative to the 

„ „ Nov. „ „ 36 to 39. murder of the crew of the 

Fuiteh Islam in the Nicobar 
group, we have the honor to forward, for your information, copies of 
further papers on the subject, and beg to be favored with your instruc¬ 
tions whether, in the event of its being determined to hold the 
Nicobars, these Islands should be annexed to India, or the Straits 
Government. 


2. It will be perceived from the communication from the Colonial 
Cons. November 1867, No. 47. Secietaiy, Straits Settlements, 

1Qn t 7 , n c ^ s0 ' 30th dated 25th October 

18G7, which forms one of the enclosures to this letter, that the measures 





( 305 ) 


that have already been taken in view to the punishment of the 
perpetrators of the outrages, render, in the opinion of His Excellency 
the Governor, further local action unnecessary. 


From Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Burne, Offg. Secy. to the Govt. 
of India , Military Department, to the Commodore Commanding East 
India Station, Bombay ,— No. 799, dated the Noth September 1867. 


I am desired to forward copy of a communication* from the 

* No a f 1 a Foreign Department, and of its enclosures, 

* -No. ©62, dated 27tn August j. n , o n -»»• , . ’ 

1367 . regarding the fate of the Master and seven 

men of the Assam Valley , who are supposed 
to have been murdered by the aborigines of the Little Andaman 
Island, and to request that you will be good enough to take such measures 
as you may deem most expedient, in connection with the proposed 
expedition to the Nicobars, to deal with this case also, with the 
view of ascertaining whether there can he any survivors of the 
party from the Assam Valley , and of punishing the inhabitants of the 
Little Andaman for the supposed murder of some or all of the party. 


From the Hon'ble A. E. H. Anson, lieutenant-Governor , Prince of Wales 
_ Island , to Sir W. Muir, k. c. s. I., Secy, to the Govt, of India , 

Foreign Department ,— No. 238, dated the 22 nd August 1867. 

I AM directed by the Governor's order to acquaint you, for the infor¬ 
mation of His Excellency the Viceroy, that in consequence of the 
information furnished by Captain N. Bedingfeld, R. N., of Her 
Majesty's Steamer Wasp, of the result of a visit made by him to the 
Nicobar Islands in June last at Governor Ord's request, His Excel¬ 
lency decided in despatching an expedition to these islands, consisting 
of Captain Bedingfeld, of Her Majesty's Steamer Wasp, and Captain 
Edye, of Her Majesty's Steamer Satellite, with some sepoys, to endeavour 
to procure the release of some white persons who are believed to be 
held in captivity by the natives, to discover and punish the perpetra¬ 
tors of the murder of the crew of th e Brig Futteh Islam last. year, and 
of any other similar outrages which could be proved against them, 
and to take such steps as would impress upon the natives the .certainty 
that punishment would follow any repetition of their crimes. 

The expedition returned to Penang a few days since, having 
successfully achieved its object. Ample traces were discovered of the 
outrage on the Futteh Islam having heen perpetrated at Great 
Nicobar; and the natives having fled from the village, and refused to 
hold any communication with the expedition, their houses and canoes 
were burnt, but their crops and the cocoanut trees which enable 

39 




( 300 ) 


them to carry on their trade, in compliance with the suggestion of 
the Governor General in Council, were spared. 

At Nancowry and its vicinity, numerous articles taken from 
plundered vessels were found in the houses of the natives, which, as 
at Great Nicobar, were mostly abandoned. It was ascertained that 
an unhappy white lady, who, with her two children (girls), had been 
spared in the murder of the crew of a vessel seized by the natives some 
two years since, had been held in captivity, and exposed to the most 
brutal treatment, being passed from one to another of the headmen as 
their fancy dictated, till at length, being accidentally seen by a native 
Captain trading there, the natives became alarmed, and after an 
ineffectual attempt to poison her and her children, they were relieved 
from further suffering by being taken to the jungle and knocked on 
the head. 

The houses of the men known to have been implicated in these 
outrages were burnt, and their canoes, some of them war-canoes, 
70 feet long, were destroyed, and also their pigs and poultry, but their 
farms and cocoanut trees were spared. 

One little girl, apparently a Ming , or half-caste, was rescued, but 
a colored woman and some children are ascertained to be held in 
captivity by one Hang-chee-up, a native, who fled with them to the 
inaccessible island of Katchall. 

The whole of this duty, which was rendered more trying by 
incessant rainy weather, was performed to the entire satisfaction of 
His Excellency, who instructs me to say that, in reporting these 
proceedings to Her Majesty^s Secretary of State for the Colonies, he 
has suggested that the Nicobar Islands shall be taken possession of, 
and a small force established there, for the security of trading and 
passing vessels, or that a man-of-war shall be instructed to pay frequent 
visits to them. 


From Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Burne, Offg. Secy, to the Govt, 
of India , Military Department, to the Commodore Commanding East 
India Station, — No. 965, dated the 30 th September 1867. 

With reference to the letter addressed to you by Secretary Colonel 
Norman, No. 47M, dated Simla, 17th August 1867, I am directed to 
forward to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Lieutenant- 
Governor of Prince of Wales Island, No. 238, dated 22nd August 1867, 
giving an account of the proceeding of the Wasp, which recently 
proceeded with a small native force to the Nicobar Islands to punish 
the perpetrators of the various outrages committed there. 

2. The Governor of the Straits Settlement will be requested to 
state whether it is desirable that the measures, determined upon by 
the Government of India, for an expedition to the Nicobar Islands, 
should still be carried out. 



( 30 ? ) 


From Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Burne, Offg. Secy, to the Govt. 

of India, Military Department, to the Colonial Secretary, Straits 

Settlements, — No. 966, dated the 30 th September 1867. 

With reference to my letter No. 135, dated 5th September 1867, 
and to the Lieutenant-Governor's letter to the Foreign Department 
No. 238, dated 22nd August 1867, reporting the proceedings of the 
Wasp, which recently proceeded with a small native force to the 
Nicobar Islands, I am directed to request that His Excellency the 
Governor of the Straits Settlements may be moved to state, for the 
information of the Government of India, whether His Excellency would 
desire that the measures recently determined upon, to send a 
small expedition to those islands, with a view of rescuing the 
captives, if practicable, and of punishing the perpetrators of the 
various outrages committed there, should still be carried out. 

2. Copies of communications* which have not already been sent 
* Commodore’s letter, dated 30th July 1867, with with my letter of the 5th 

annexments. instant, are now forwarded 

Commodore’s letters, dated 5th & 7th August 1867, p or reference 
with annexments. 

3. The favor of an early reply is solicited. 


Extract of a Despatch from the Government of India, Marine Department, 
to the Right Ilon’ble the Secretary of State for India, — No. 2, dated 
2‘3rd January 1868. 

Para. 3. You will perceive also that we have issued a Notification 
cautioning all concerned against landing on any of the Andaman and 
Nicobar "groups without taking due precautions against attack or 
surprise. 

4. While on the subject of the Nicobar group, we beg to draw 
your attention to a communication from the Colonial Secretary, Straits 
Settlements, whicli will be found among the papers now forwarded, 
stating that the Naval Commander-in-Chief of Singapore has notified 
his intention at once to despatch Her Majesty's Steamer Perseus, and if 
necessary, a gun-boat, to visit the Nicobar Islands, and communicate 
with the chiefs, a measure which His Excellency the Governor con¬ 
siders judicious, and likely to be attended with good results. 


From Lteutenant-Colonel R. Macpherson, r. a., Colonial Secretary, 
Straits Settlements, to the Secy, to the Govt, of India, Military 
Department,— No., 351, dated the 29/A November 1867. 


I have the honor to acknowledge your minute No. 112, forwaiding 
extract of a despatch from Commodore L. G. Heath, Commanding 
East India Station, to His Excellency Sir J. Lawrence, Bart., Her 




( 308 ) 


Majesty's Viceroy and Governor General of India, bearing* date the 
20tli September 1867, upon the subject of further proceedings against 
the natives of the Nicobar Islands. 

I am instructed by His Excellency the Governor of the Straits 
Settlements to refer you in reply to letter from this office, No. 306 of 
date the 25th ultimo, which conveyed the expressions of His Excellency's 
opinion, that further local action was unnecessary. 

At the same time I am directed to acquaint you, for the information 
of His Excellency the Governor General of India, that Sir H. Keppel, 
the Naval Commander-in-Chief of this Station (within which the 
Nicobar group has now been placed by Her Majesty's Government) 
has notified to this Government his intention to despatch at once Her 
Majesty's Steamer Perseus, and if necessary a gun-boat to visit the 
Nicobar Islands, and communicate with the chiefs, a measure which His 
Excellency considers judicious, and likely to be attended with good 
results. 

The attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called to the 
expediency of keeping up a regular and constant communication with 
the Nicobar Islands, and also to the expediency of hoisting the British 
flag, and forming a small establishment upon them. As yet however 
no reply has been received to this despatch. 


Extract from the Proceedings of the Government of India, in the Foreign 
Dept . (Politicat), — No. 356, dated the \5th March 1869. 


Read again the undermentioned papers relative to the annexation of the Nicobar Islands :—■ 
Political Proceedings A, February 1868, Nos. 238 to 241. 

» „ April „ „ 10 to 12. 

Read Despatch from Right Hon’ble the Secretary of State, dated 20th January 1869, No. 6, 
intimating that the Danish Government have no objection to the proposed annexa¬ 
tion of the Nicobar Islands, and directing the adoption of measures to bring the 
islands under the British flag, and to provide for their future administration under the 
Superintendent of the Andaman Islands. 


Read also letter to Commodore Sir L. G. Heath, Commanding East India Station, dated 
25t,h February 1869, No. O-A, requesting him to depute one of Her Majesty’s vessels- 
of-war to take possession of the islands accordingly, and to occupy them continuously 
till they can be handed over to the Military or Civil Administration. 


Read further reply from Commodore Sir L. G. Heath, dated 4th instant, intimating- the 
If Ue b° f T derS Commander Morrell, of Her Majesty’s Ship Spiteful, to proceed to 
the Harbour of Nancowry and take and hold possession of the islands, and requesting 
that that Officer may be relieved at an early date. ° 


Ordered, that the foregoing papers be forwarded to the Home 
Department, with the request that early steps may be taken to organize 




( 309 ) 


an administration for the Nicobar Islands under the supervision of the 
Superintendent of the Audaman Islands as directed by the Home 
Government. 


Confidential.—From W. S. Seton-Karr, Esq., Secy, to llie Govt, of 

India , Foreign Department , to the Commodore of the East India 

Station ,— No. A, dated the Zhth February 1869. 

I am directed by His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor General 
of India in Council to inform you that, under authority received from 
the Secretary of State, the Government of India has determined on 
taking immediate possession of the Nicobar Islands, it having been 
ascertained through the proper diplomatic channel that the Danish 
Government has no objection to offer to this course. 

2. I am accordingly directed to request that you will take steps 
to depute one of Her Majesty's vessels to the islands in question, in 
order to effect this object. 

3. The measure should be carried out as quietly as possible, and 
without any public intimation being given of the intention of Govern¬ 
ment, but it is most essential that the formalities should be observed 
which are proper to such occasions, that the British flag should be 
hoisted on the principal island or islands; and that a proclamation be 
read out to the effect that these territories are occupied by British 
Officers acting under authority, and that they will henceforth be regarded 
as part of the dominions of the Sovereign of Great Britain. A royal 
salute of 21 guns should be fired on the occasion of hoisting the flag on 
the main island. 

4. It is also necessary, and in accordance with international law, 
that to render the occupation of these islands effective, it should be con¬ 
tinuous ; and the vessel which takes possession, must, therefore, remain 
at the Nicobars until such time as the islands can be regularly handed 
over to the Military or Civil Administration. 

5. Measures will be taken to effect this without delay. It will 
be sufficient if the vessel, which you intend to despatch with the objects 
indicated, can be at the Nicobars within three weeks or a month from 
the date of your receiving this despatch. 


Confidential—From Commdore Sir L. G. Heath, k. c. b., Comdg. East 
India Station , to His Excellency Earl Mayo, k. p. g. c. s. i., 
Viceroy and Governor General of India,—dated the 4>th March 1869. 

In accordance with your Excellency's request, conveyed in letter 
No. A, from Mr. Secretary Seton-Karr, I have ordered Commander 
M orrell, now commanding Her Majesty's Ship Spiteful at Trincomalee, 





( 310 ) 


to proceed to the Harbour of Nan cowry, and take and hold possession 
of the Nicobar Islands until relieved by proper authority. 

I enclose for record a copy of the proclamation he will read, and 
I have ordered that a royal salute shall be fired upon hoisting the 
English flag. 

I have thought it best that Commander Morrell should remain 
altogether at Nancowry until the arrival of the authorities deputed to 
succeed him, because, if the proclamation is valid as regards any one 
island other than that at which it is read, it is, I presume, equally valid 
over the whole group, and it would be unwise to leave the flag at 
Nancowry without full and efficient protection from possible insult. 
Moreover, it is unlikely that Commander Morrell will have been able 
to obtain an interpreter at Trincomalee, and the chances of misunder¬ 
standings with the natives would be increased by visiting more of the 
islands. 

I am about soon to proceed to the southern parts of my station, 
and I have therefore instructed Commander Morrell to send duplicates 
of his letters of proceedings direct to your Excellency. 

The Spiteful will probably reach Nancowry about the 22nd of 
March, and as she is under orders for England, I should be glad if the 
arrangements for relieving her could be made with all convenient haste, 
so that she may, if possible, save the N. E. monsoon. 


Proclamation. 

I, Arthur Morrell, a Commander in Her Britannic Majesty's 
Naval Service, and now commanding Her Majesty's Ship-of-war 
Spiteful , having received instructions thereto from Commodore Sir 
Leopold Heath, k. c. b., Commanding Her Majesty's Naval Forces in 
the Indian Seas, acting on the requisition of the Earl Mayo, Viceroy 

and Governor General of India, do now on this the-day of 

-A. D. 1869, in the name and on behalf of Her Most 

Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, take 
possession of this Island of Nancowry, together with all others com¬ 
monly known as the Nicobar Islands, that is to say, the Island of Car- 
Nicobar, with those lying between them, including Tillanchong, and 
in token thereof, I now hoist the flag of Great Britain, proclaiming to 
all concerned the supremacy of Her Most Gracious Majesty, and calling 
upon the inhabitants of the said islands to submit themselves to Her 
Majesty's laws. 


From the Secretary of State for India, to the Government of India, _ 

No. 214, dated the 23?y/ December 1867. 

Among the enclosures to your Excellency's letter in the Military 
Department, No. 253 (Separate) of the 3rd September 1867, respecting 
the measures taken to punish the natives of the Nicobar Islands for 







( 811 ) 


their outrages on the crews of the ship-wrecked vessels'; and to 
recover Europeans stated to be still in their hands, 1 find a letter from 
the Secretary to your Excellency's Government, No. 47 of the 17th 
August last, in which reference is made to an inquiry into the 
expediency of annexing to the Government of India the Islands in 
question as an alternative to their being annexed to the Government 
of the Straits Settlements. 

2. Respecting the latter measure, Colonel Ord will doubtless have 
been placed in possession of the views of the Secretary of State for 
the Colonies, with whom I have communicated on the subject in a letter, 
copy of which is enclosed, 

3. With reference to the annexation of these islands, either to 
the territories under your Excellency's Government, or to the Govern¬ 
ment of the Straits Settlements, I wish to be placed in full possession of 
your sentiments as early as practicable. 


From the Assistant Military Secretary , to the Under Secretary of Slate , 
Colonial Office,—dated the 4 th December 1867. 

I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to 
transmit, herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the 
Colonies, copy of a Military despatch from the Government of India, 
No. 253, dated 3rd September 1867, reporting their proceedings con¬ 
sequent on the murder of the crew of the Brig Futteh Islam in the 
Nicobar group and of other similar outrages. 

I am to request that you will draw His Grace the Duke of Buck¬ 
ingham's attention to the 2nd paragraph in the Government letter 
(No. 47, in the Marine Department,) dated the 17th August 1867, 
relative to a proposed annexation of the islands to the Indian or Straits 
Government. 


9 

From Captain H. Lewis, Master Attendant ., Bangoon, to the Secretary to 
the Chief Commissioner of British Burmah ,— No. 1288 A, dated 
the 9th January 1868. 

Seeing an article in the papers a short time ago relative to the 
Nicobar Islands, my attention was called to the fact that, since this 
oTOup of islands had been formally ceded to the British Government 
by the King of Denmark, no steps have been taken to assure ourselves 
of the possession of them. 

I am not sufficiently versed in the law of nations to know if it 
be essentially necessary to a title of possession that the nation claiming 
this title should have hoisted its flag on one or more of the principal 
islands of the group, at the same time proclaiming her title of 

possession. 

Such, however, was the course pursued by the Danish Government 
when I was in command of their surveying expedition, and I have 
thought it advisable to call the attention of the Chief Commissioner of 




( 312 ) 


British Burmali to this subject, so that, should he deem it necessary, he 
may remind the Governor General of India that as yet the British Hag 
has not been hoisted, nor formal possession taken of the Nicobar Islands. 


From the Government of India, to the Secretary of State for India ,— 

No. 27, dated the 13 th February 1868. 

We have duly considered the question put in paragraph 3 of your 
letter No. 214 of the 23rd December last, as to the expediency of 
annexing to the Government of India the Nicobar Islands as an alter¬ 
native to their being annexed to the Government of the Straits 
Settlements. 

2. Looking to the geographical situation of those islands, we 
observe that they are distant about 300 miles from our station in the 

* The distances are calcnkt- Andamans* and some 450 miles from the 
ed from the centre of the nearest of the Straits Settlements,Penang, and 
Nicobar group. f r0 m the other Straits Settlements, Singa¬ 

pore and others, they are of course much more distant. They are also 
distant about 370 miles from the Tenasserim Coast (of British 
Burmah). From this point of view, then, they are more conveniently 
situated, as regards the Indian Settlement in the Andamans and the 
southern parts of British Burmah than as regards the Straits 
Settlements. 

3. We consider that the Nicobars might be managed from the 
Andaman station, that is, they might be under the control of the Superin¬ 
tendent of the Andamans, who is much nearer than any other authority 
could be. 

4. Having regard to the serious cases of piracy and other outrages 
which have of late occurred, we conclude that the Government of India 
would have better means for effectually suppressing such occurrences, 
or for dealing adequately with such affairs, than the Government of the 
Straits Settlements could reasonably be expected to possess. If a small 
military force were needed, the Indian army could certainly furnish 
it; if a small expenditure were needed, the revenues of India, which 
benefits by the increased security to trade and navigation, could 
afford that much. Perhaps, it would not be quite convenient to the 
Government of the Straits Settlements to do either. 

5. For these reasons, though we should not otherwise be at all 

From the Secretary, Chief desirous of undertaking this charge, we 
Commissioner, British Burmah, incline to the view that the best arrangement 
No. 6, dated 25th January 1868, would be to make over the Nicobar Islands 
(copy enclosed). . to the Government of India. From the 

documents marginally noted, we find that there is no political difficulty, 
and no objection to the British Hag being hoisted in those islands. 



( 313 ) 


6. M e have referred to the information regarding 1 the Nicobars to 
be found in Selections from the Records of the Government of India, 
I^o. XXV. The islands appear to be nine in number, in a wild and 
uncleared condition. The inhabitants are supposed to be less than five 
thousand in number. If they were made over to this Government, we 
should be disposed to place them under the supervision of the Superin¬ 
tendent at Port Blair (Andamans), and in subordination to him, there 
might be stationed an European Officer at some selected station in the 
Nicobars themselves. They would be, together with the Andamans, 
under the general control of the Chief Commissioner of British Burmah. 
The exact nature of the military and naval arrangements that may be 
deemed requisite will be more properly determined when we have been 
put in possession of the views entertained by Her Majesty's Government 
on the subject of the present reference. 


From the Secretary of State for India , to the Government of India ,— No. 17, 

dated the 8th February 1868. 

With reference to my despatch of the 23rd December 1867, No. 214, 
in the Political Department, in which your Excellency was requested to 
communicate to Her Majesty's Government your views as to the proposed 
annexation of the Nicobar Islands to the Government of the Straits 
Settlements, or to the territories under your jurisdiction, I transmit, for 

» Dated I3tli January 1868. JT ' Excellency's information copy of a 

letter* recently received from the Colonial 

Office, from which you will learn that His Grace the Secretary of State 
for the Colonies is not prepared to assent to the annexation of the 
islands in question to the Government of the Straits Settlements. 


2. I take this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your 
Marine letter No. 19 of the 7th December 1867, which will, if necessary, 
be taken into further consideration, with other papers relative to the 
Nicobar Islands, on receipt of your reply to the reference made in my 
despatch above alluded to. 


From Sir Frederic Rogers, Fart., to the Under-Secretary of State for 

India,—dated the 13 th January 1868. 

I am directed by the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos to acknow¬ 
ledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th ultimo, forwarding a copy of a 
despatch from the Government of India and other documents having 
reference to outrages committed by the inhabitants of the Nicobar Islands, 
and calling attention to a suggestion for the annexation of these islands 
to the Indian or Straits Government. 

I am to state, in reply, that the Duke of Buckingham is not prepared 
to assent to any such arrangements so far as the Government of the Straits 
is concerned. 

In His Grace's opinion the best way to keep these people in 
order and prevent piracy, would be frequent visits by vessels-of-war, and 
full measure of punishment for any crimes committed. And this, it 

40 




( 314 ) 


-appears to His Grace, can be much better done while these people are 
not British subjects than if the islands were annexed to any British 
territory, and the people thus endowed with privileges of British 
subjects. 

I am to add that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have 
informed His Grace, as probably they have also the Secretary of State 
for India, that, in a letter dated the 15th November last, Vice-Admiral 
Sir Henry Keppell reports having detached the Perseus and Grasshopper 
to join the expedition despatched by the Governor General of India to 
punish the natives of the Nicobar and Andaman Islands, and compel 
them by blockade to surrender the perpetrators of recent murders of 
crews of trading vessels. 

I am also to enclose, for Sir Stafford Northcote's information, a 
copy of the despatch received from Sir Harry St. George Ord, reporting 
the result of the expedition which had been undertaken against the 
Nicobar Islands. 


From the Government of India, to the Secretary of State for India ,— No. 46, 

dated the 3rd April 1868. 

We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch 
No. 17, dated 8th February last, transmitting for our information copy of 
a letter from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, in which 
His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos expresses an opinion 
adverse not only to the annexation of the Nicobar Islands to the 
Government of the Straits Settlements but to annexation at all. 


This opinion has induced us to give further consideration to 
the subject. But, after due deliberation, we are unable to come to any 
other conclusion than that the time has come for taking these islands 
under the control of the British power. For the last 50 years the 
inhabitants have taken advantage of their isolated and independent 
position to plunder and murder the crews of vessels which have been 
wrecked on their coasts, or have made their harbours in distress. Punish¬ 
ment for these atrocities is difficult; preventive measures are ineffectual. 
For such measures vessels-of-war are not readily available. Nor, even 
if they were available, could much success be hoped from such occasional 
and fleeting visits as they would be able to pay. 

3. The only plan, therefore, that suggests itself to us for prevent¬ 
ing the recurrence of the outrages which have long attracted attention, 
is to occupy, with a proper degree of permanency, one of the islands, 
and from that vantage-ground to endeavour to reform and civilize the 
inhabitants. This is a work which we should not desire to undertake, 
except for its pressing necessity, and with the prospect of some measure 
of success. 










4. Another consideration which we have not overlooked is the 
possibility of the occupation of the islands by a foreign power. It is 






( 315 ) 


needless to dwell on the incovenience which would he felt from the 
existence of a Foreign Naval Station in the immediate neighbourhood 
of our settlements in the Indian seas. 


From His Grace the Duke oe Argyll, k. t., Secretary of State for India, 
to the Government of India,—No. 6, dated the 20 th January 1869. 

With reference to former correspondence* on the subject of the 

* India, Foreign letters, 13th P ro P osed annexation of the Nicobar Islands, 
February, No. 27, 1868. ’ I forward, for your Excellency's information, 

India, Foreign letters, 3rd copy of a letter j- from the Foreign Office, 

t'Dated,' 1th December 1868. ^ elos | 1 ^ communications from Her Majesty', 

Minister at Copenhagen, from which it will 
be seen that the Danish Government have no objection to the course 
proposed, but that, for reasons stated, they do not consider it desirable 
to make a formal cession of the islands. 


2. As it is clear from this correspondence that no difficulty will 
be raised by the Danish Government, your Excellency is authorized 
to take such steps as you may think fit to bring the islands under the 
British Hag, and to provide for their future administration under the 
supervision of the Superintendent of the Andaman Islands. 


3. You will report, from time to time, to Her Majesty's Govern¬ 
ment, the steps which you have taken in this matter 


Fi •om E. C. Egerton, Esq., Under Secretary, Foreign Office, London, to 
Herman Merivale, Esq., Under Secretary of State for India ,— 
dated the 8th December 1868. 


With reference to your letter of the 4th instant, I am directed by 
# N „ oa . i o 0 Lord Stanley to transmit to you, to be laid 

before Sir Stafford Northcote, copies of two 
despatches* from Her Majesty's Minister at Copenhagen, respecting 
the contemplated occupation of the Nicobar Islands by the Government 
of India. Sir Stafford Northcote will see from these despatches that, 
though the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs does not consider it 
advisable to make a formal cession of the islands, in consequence of the 
difficulty which might be experienced in passing such a measure through 
the Rigs-dag, he has formally stated in a note to Her Majesty's Minister 
that he considers the islands, since their abandonment by Denmark, to be 
“ derelict"; and in case the Government of India should not be 
satisfied with this, he states further that his Government voluntarily cedes 
its rights over them to that of Her Britannic Majesty, on the understand¬ 
ing that no other power shall have already taken possession of them. 


Lord Stanley does not doubt that Sir Stafford Northcote will agree 
with him that it is clear that no difficulty will be raised by the Danish 
Government to the annexation of the islands whenever it may seem fit 
to the Government of India to take that step. 




( 316 ) 


RESOLUTION hj the Government of India, Home Department , No. 

1571-75, dated the Zteh March 1869. 

Read endorsement from Foreign Department, No. 356, dated 15th March 1869, forwarding 
papers relative to the occupation of the Nicobar Islands in the name of Her Majesty s 
Indian Government. 

% 

Read a Note on the subject by Colonel Man, Officiating Superintendent, Port Blair, dated 

12 th idem. 

Read a Note of Conversations with Colonel Man, who had been summoned to Calcutta per¬ 
sonally to confer with Government. 


Resolution. —The Secretary of State having sanctioned the formal 
occupation of the whole of the Nicobar group, and measures to this end 
having already been taken under orders issued in the Foreign Department, 
it remains to arrange for the administration of the islands under the 
supervision of the Superintendent of Port Blair. 

2. The scheme proposed by Colonel Man is generally approved by 
the Governor General in Council. The three northern islands of the 
main group, viz., Nancowry, Carmorta and Trinkuttee, on which the acts 
of piracy have chiefly occurred, will, for the present at any rate, alone be 
actually occupied, a nominal protectorate being extended to the other 
islands, to which also occasional visits would be paid. The occupying 
force should consist of one company of Native Infantry, with its Euro¬ 
pean Officers, and they should be accompanied by a body of about 200 
convicts, carefully chosen, in charge of one of the extra assistants to 
the superintendent. To them should be attached two European over¬ 
seers, an apothecary, and a native hospital assistant. The workmen 
required for the speedy erection of buildings should also be taken with 
the party. 

3. The necessary materials for wooden buildings should be taken 
from Port Blair, and, to facilitate this, the Public Works Department 
will be asked to arrange, if possible, for Colonel Man taking with him 
from Calcutta in the Kivantung a sufficient quantity of angle-iron for 
the barracks which will be required. As to the site and nature of the 
buildings to be erected, and the best method of defence, much will be left 
to the discretion of the Officiating Superintendent, subject to a report, 
which should be submitted to the Public Works Department, and to an 
ultimate adjustment of accounts in that department. 

4. Colonel Man's proposal to make over to the expedition the 
paddle-box boats of the Arracan, which are said not to be required by 
that vessel, will be referred to the Marine Department for further 
consideration, and with a request that Colonel Man's wishes may be 
complied with, unless there be some very strong objection, of which 
this department has no knowledge. 

5. To that department will also be referred the suggestions 
that the Steamer Rainbow should be obtained from the Straits Settle¬ 
ments by purchase, if necessary, and employed in keeping up communi¬ 
cation between Port Blair and the Nicobars. A steam launch, such 



( 317 ) 

as those employed by the naval authorities at Spithead/ and which 
are understood to be both economical and good sea-boats, would be 
very useful at the Nicobars in exploring the coasts and keeping 
up communication between the islands. The Marine Department will 
be requested to make the necessary arrangements for supplying such a 
aunch with the least possible delay. A cattle-boat is also very much to 
be desired to facilitate the proposed establishment of a cattle farm on the 
Nicobars. This can be obtained by Colonel Man himself at a small cost, 
and he is authorized to make the necessary arrangements for the purpose! 

6. Colonel Man, who will be in charge of the expedition of 
occupation, should keep Government in possession of the earliest possible 
intelligence of all his proceedings. 


From E. C. Bayley, Esq., Secretary to the Government of India, to Com¬ 
mander A. Morrell, Commanding Her Majesty’s Skip-of-war Spite¬ 
ful,— No. 1577, dated the 24 th March 1869. 

I am directed to forward to you the accompanying amended pro¬ 
clamation to be used in substitution of the one you received from 
Commodore Sir Leopold Heath, k. c. b., Commanding Her Majesty's 
Naval Forces in the Indian seas. 

2. You will have perceived that the effect of the latter document 
would be to place the Nicobars entirely under the control of Her Majesty 
the Queen, and subject them to the legislative action of the British 
Parliament alone. The possession of the islands in question was, how¬ 
ever, determined upon with the express intention of attaching them to 
Her Majesty's dominions in India, and bringing them under the juris¬ 
diction of the Indian Government. For these reasons His Excellency 
the Governor General in Council considers it necessary to adopt the 
revised proclamation herein enclosed. 

3. If the proclamation received by you from Commodore Sir 
Leopold Pleath has been made before this letter reaches you, His 
Excellency the Governor General in Council desires that the revised pro¬ 
clamation may be also made, and that the forms may be again gone 
through which were adopted on the former occasion. 

I, Arthur Morrell, a Commander in Her Britannic Majesty's 
Naval Service, and now Commanding Her Majesty's Ship-of-war Spite¬ 
ful, having received instructions thereto from Commodore Sir Leopold 
Heath, K. c. b., Commanding Her Majesty's Naval Forces in the 
Indian seas, acting on the requisition of the Earl of Mayo, Viceroy and 

Governor General of India, do now on this the-day of-—in the 

name and on behalf of the Indian Government of Her Majesty the 
Queen of Great Britain and Ireland take possession of this Island of 
Nancowry, together with all others commonly known as the Nicobar 
Islands, that is to say, the Island of Car-Nicobar and Great Nicobar 
with those lying between them including Tillanchong, and in token 





( 318 ) 


thereof T now hoist the flag of Great Britain, proclaiming to all con¬ 
cerned the supremacy of Her Most Gracious Majesty, declaring the said 
islands to be subject to Her Majesty's Indian Government, and calling 
upon the inhabitants of the said islands to submit themselves to Her 
Majesty's laws as administered by the Government of India. 


Ft 'om E. C. BxVTLEY, Esq., Secretary to the Government of India , to 
Colonel H. Man, Officiating Superintendent of Fort Blair ,— 
No. 1576, dated the %Uh March 1869. 

I am directed to forward, for your information and guidance, 
the accompanying copy of a resolution recorded in this Department, 
on the subject of the occupation of the Nicobar Islands in the name of 
Her Majesty's Indian Government, and to request that you will proceed 
to the Nicobars as soon as possible, to relieve Captain Morrell, and enter 
upon the administration of the islands. 


From Commander A. Morrell, r. n., Commanding Her Majesty’s Ship - 
of-war Spiteful, to the Secretary to the Government of India , Home 
Department,—dated the 1 Qtlt April 1869. 

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 1577 of the 
24th March, forwarding, the amended proclamation relative to the taking 
possession of the Nicobar Islands, and in reply thereto have the honor to 
state, for the information of His Excellency the Governor General, that, 
in accordance with his desire, the same has this day been made, the usual 
forms again gone through, and that I have given over possession to 
Colonel Man. 

I arrived here in Her Majesty's ship under my command on the 
24th, and first took possession of these islands on the 27th ultimo, since 
which time we have been clearing jungle and preparing in various ways 
for the reception of the colonists. A detailed report of my proceedings 
during this period I purpose forwarding to His Excellency from Trinco- 
malee, for which port I leave to-morrow, my services being no longer 
required by Colonel Man. 


From Commander A. Morrell, r. n., Commanding Her Majesty’s Ship- 
of-war Spiteful, to His Excellency Earl Mayo, k. p. g. c. s. i.. 
Viceroy and Governor General of India,—dated the 24 Ik April 1869. 

I have the honor to transmit, for your Lordship's information, 
the copy of a report addressed by me this day to Commodore 
Sir L. G. Heath, k. c. b., Commanding-in-Chief, relative to my 
proceedings whilst employed at Nancowry, Nicobar Islands. 





( 319 ) 


From Commander A. Morrell, r. n., Comdg. H. M.'s Blip-of-war 

Spiteful, to Commodore Sir L. GK Heath, k. c. b. Comdg. H. M.'s 

Naval Forces in the Indian Seas,—dated the 24 th April 1869. 

I have the honor to report that, m accordance with your orders, dated 
the 4th March last, received by me at Trineomalee on the 17th, I left that 
poit on the 18 th for Nancowry, Nicobar Islands, where I arrived on the 
24th ultimo, having* been obliged to steam nearly the whole distance on 
account of the light head winds and calms experienced. 

On arrival I found a Chinese junk at anchor, and also observed three ' 
others off Trinkuttee. 

Soon after anchoring in Spiteful Bay, a small canoe came alongside 
with cocoanuts, yams, and one fowl as a present; and the canoe-man, 
who was a Burmese, informed me that the natives were afraid, and had 
all gone away on seeing the war-ship. Another canoe soon after came 
alongside from the Chinese junk, and told the same story; also stating 
that there was fever among the natives, and that all the Chinese on 
board the junk had it. 

I landed on the north point of Nancowry, and at the nearest 
village found only one inhabitant, he having been unable to do as the 
other villagers had done, cross over quickly to the other islands, which 
they were observed to do on our making our appearance. Through the 
interpreter, I begged this man to tell the people to return to their homes, 
as I wanted to see them all and to be their friend. I then visited 
another village which was quite deserted. 

9 

After leaving these villages I boarded the junk, saw the master, 
examined the vesseks papers, and found her from Penang loading with 
cocoanuts, her clearance being up on the 30th April. There were several 
sick on board, and on my informing them that the Surgeon of the 
Spiteful would see to them, they were very thankful. 

I then pulled across to another village on Carmorta Island, but 
found that the natives had retreated into the jungle on our approach; 
but several Malays, Burmese and Chinese were seen here, they being 
part of the junk's crew who were employed in collecting and drying 
cocoanuts. I told these men the object of my visit, and that I wanted 
the natives to return to their villages; also that I was desirous to see 
them on the 27th, the day on which I hoped to be able to get the flag 
staff up. Before I left this place two or three natives or jungle-men 
came down, but no one seemed able to converse with them, although the 
Malays and Chinese after a long time and a great many signs made them 
understand what I was about to do, but the information did not seem to 
interest them at all. 

I then again went across to Nancowry to select a site for the flag 
staff, and after visiting various parts, determined that the best spot was 
the extreme northern point (which I have named Mayo Point), it being 
tolerably high, visible from seaward, and commanding the entrance of 
the harbour at its narrowest part. 


( 320 ) 




On returning on board, I made arrangements for clearing the jungle 
from Mayo Point, and erecting the flag staff; and, taking the great heat 
into consideration, I determined upon only working on shore between 5 
and half-past 7 a. m., and 4 and half-past 6 p. m., and this routine was 
daily carried out during my stay there. 

On the 27th, at 8 a. m., I, with a party of officers, seamen and 
mariners, landed and hoisted the British flag in the presence of about 50 
natives; made the proclamation forwarded by you, also its translation in 
Malay, which was read by the interpreter, and took possession of all the 
Nicobar Islands on behalf of Her Majesty, at the same time dressing 
ship and firing a royal salute. 

Between the 24th March and the 15th instant, the whole of the top 
of Mayo Point was cleared from jungle and levelled; a good flight of 
steps made from the top to the bottom; the flag staff erected; the level 
land at the foot of the Point freed from jungle as much as possible; an 
old well, which we found 7 feet deep and quite dry, deepened to 20 feet 
with a diameter of 7 feet 6 inches, through solid rock, and the upper 
part of it bricked up; a second well sunk 14 feet, diameter 7 feet, on 
Carmorta Island, and the entrance to Nancowry Harbour buoyed. 

Being directed by you to do all in my power to conciliate the 
natives, I deemed the best means of gaining their confidence would be 
to distribute small presents amongst them, for which purpose I obtained 
from the Paymaster of this ship, and on the occasion of taking possession 
of the Islands distributed two pounds sterling in small coins, lOOlbs. of 
rice and lOOlbs. biscuit. 

On the 15th instant, at noon, the Bengal Marine Steamer Arracan , 
with the hulk Blenheim in tow, arrived with Colonel Man on board, he 
having been entrusted by His Excellency the Governor General with the 
management of the Nicobars. 

I received from him an amended proclamation which the Governor 
General desired me to make, the latter one placing the Islands under the 
control of the Indian instead of the Imperial Government, as was the 
case with the first. 

This was made, and the customary ceremonies again gone through 
on the 16th; and my services being no longer required by Colonel Man, 
I left on the following’ day, 17th, for this place, where I have to report 
my arrival this day. 

In concluding, I would observe that the officers and ships* company 
of Her Majesty's ship under my command deserve great praise for the 
very willing manner in which this work was performed under trying 
circumstances, the jungle in places being almost impenetrable, and the 
men but imperfectly supplied with tools. And I may remark that 
Colonel Man, on my handing over possession to him, tendered me his 
warmest thanks for the very efficient manner in which we had prepared 


( 321 ) 


for the reception of the colonists. Further, I have much pleasure in 
adding that, though fever was prevalent in most of the villages adjacent 
to Cross Harbour, as also on board the junks lying at Nancowry and 
Trinkuttec, none of the crew of this ship were in the least affected. 

I enclose the despatch received from E. C. Bayley, Esq., Secretary 
to the Government of India, relative to the Nicobars being taken 
possession of on behalf of the Indian Government; also a copy of my 
reply thereto, together with a rough chart of Nancowry harbour, 
showing the names I have given to the various places, which I hope 
will meet with your approval. 









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